Thammasat University students interested in ASEAN studies, Malaysia, ecology, environmental policy, political science, sociology, law, and related subjects may find it useful to participate in a free 21 September Zoom webinar on Can Southeast Asia Play Its Part For The Climate?
The event, on Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 9am Bangkok time, is presented by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore.
The TU Library collection includes books about different aspects of climate change in Southeast Asia.
Students are invited to register at this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qsMRQleBRWGrlD5L2VgoPg#/
The event webpage explains:
As climate change impacts intensify and affect more and more people in the region, concerns about the absence of concerted efforts for a more ambitious climate agenda grow. From more ambitious climate pledges promised by regional governments to increasingly proactive business communities and environmental groups in integrating climate considerations into their practices, there is growing awareness in the region that a “business-as-usual” scenario is no longer an option. But how do Southeast Asian citizens perceive these developments and view their countries’ climate policy direction? How are businesses’ climate actions received by Southeast Asian countries? Do individual actions count in the bigger scheme of things?
- About the Survey Launch
Against this backdrop, the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute initiated the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey, a region-wide annual survey to understand the climate awareness and perceptions of Southeast Asian citizens. This year’s survey is the fourth iteration and was designed to analyse the attitudes and concerns of Southeast Asian citizens towards climate change, governmental policies and actions and the role of different stakeholders in climate action. This year’s survey also drew views on renewable energy transition, agriculture and food security, and international cooperation. This hybrid seminar will launch the Report and discuss key findings with a panel of four expert discussants versed in regional climate and environmental policy.
About the Speakers
Keynote Speaker
H.E. Nik Nazmi Bin Nik Ahmad is the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment & Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa. […]
Speakers / Moderators
Mr. Choi Shing Kwok is the Director & CEO of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, which does research on the political, economic and socio-cultural developments in Southeast Asia. […]
Ms. Jessica Cheam is the Founder and Managing Director of Eco-Business, Asia Pacific’s leading independent media and business intelligence organisation dedicated to sustainable development. […]
Dr. Winston Chow is an Associate Professor of Urban Climate and Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow based at Singapore Management University’s (SMU) College of Integrative Studies. […]
Dr. Angel Hsu is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and the Environment, Ecology and Energy Program (E3P) at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and holds a PhD in Forestry and Environmental Studies from Yale University. […]
Dr. Thang Nam Do is a Fellow in the Zero-Carbon Energy for Asia-Pacific Grand Challenge Program in the Resources, Environment and Development program, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU). […]
Ms. Sharon Seah is Senior Fellow and concurrent Coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre and the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. […]
Dr. Mirza Huda is Lead Researcher at the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme (CCSEAP) of the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. […]
Last month, the Sustainable Energy for All website posted information about
Renewable Energy Manufacturing: Opportunities for Southeast Asia
This report, by the Asian Development Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, ClimateWorks Foundation and Sustainable Energy for All, presents an assessment of the potential of renewable energy manufacturing in Southeast Asia across three sectors: solar photovoltaic (PV), batteries, and electric two-wheelers. It also proposes potential ambition and outcomes for each sector and identifies key opportunities for intraregional collaboration.
Southeast Asia will be impacted disproportionately by climate change. Five out of its 10 economies rank among the world’s top 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change, and the region could lose up to 30 percent of its gross domestic product by 2050 due to increases in global temperature and extreme weather events.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Southeast Asia must be reduced by 10 percent to 25 percent by 2030 (relative to its current trajectory) to limit global warming to a 1.5°C pathway. Substantial and collective action by governments and businesses is required. As of today, about half of all governments within the region have committed to net-zero targets. Against this backdrop, the region’s energy consumption is also expected to grow significantly. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that between 2020 and 2050, Southeast Asia’s electricity demand will grow by 2.5x, and its energy consumption for transport will more than double.
A major push to electrify transportation and deploy renewable energy will be essential for the region to meet its decarbonization commitments. This is reflected in the energy strategies across the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This has the potential to achieve dual objectives in Southeast Asia. Firstly, it would enable the region to meet rising energy demand while lowering carbon emissions. Secondly, the development of local manufacturing capabilities could support job creation and economic growth. In Southeast Asia, low-carbon mobility and clean power have the potential to contribute USD 90 billion to USD 100 billion in revenues by 2030, while 6 million renewable energy jobs are expected to be created by 2050.
An associated report for free download asserts:
There is an estimated $90 billion to $100 billion revenue opportunity in Southeast Asia’s low-carbon mobility and clean power segments by 2030. Southeast Asia already is well-positioned to meet the demand for manufactured inputs into these sectors, as it already produces 9%–10% of the world’s solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, ~50% of global nickel output, and 6%–10% of all electric two-wheelers today. It also possesses natural advantages to support the scale-up of production: 16 terawatt (TW) of technical solar potential, 25% and 10% of global nickel and cobalt reserves respectively, and 25% of the global two wheeler market. […] Southeast Asia can build on its strong history of regional collaboration to enhance competitiveness and meet its net-zero targets. For example, production factors could benefit from trade across the value chain and regional efforts to improve workforce quality and distribution. Demand markets could be supported by the build-out of the ASEAN Power Grid to enable higher renewables deployment through multilateral power trade and expanded grid balancing areas. Harmonization of technical standards for E2W vehicles and charging stations could enable OEMs to develop products that suit needs across markets.
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)