Shaping the future of Emerging Asia with clean energy

CLEAN water, sanitation, health care, transport, lighting, cooking, heating - these are energy-driven elements essential to human well-being, as well as a country's economic activity and social development. But they are not accessible to the world's energy poor, most of whom are living in Asia and the Pacific.

Today, more than 700 million people in the region have no access to electricity, even though electricity demand in South-east Asia alone is set to triple by 2040. With the threats of climate change in the picture, world leaders and international organisations have recognised the need to ensure access to energy for all, in addition to curbing the ill-effects of widespread environmental dangers.

Environmental deterioration due to pollution, deforestation and land degradation has been increasing in the wake of industrial revolution and rapid urbanisation growth in developing nations. This is exacerbated by a dependence on fossil fuels, which has become the lynchpin of economic growth in these countries in the past decade. In 19 out of 25 cities in Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, coastal flooding has led to fatality and economic losses. Over 5.9 million people are predicted to be affected by floods every year until 2100, according to a 2017 report by Asian Development Bank (ADB).