Time to push efforts to deliver on Paris climate pledges

US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris climate accord must not become a distraction from urgent global efforts to combat climate change. Countries in Asia were among the most committed supporters of the Paris goals. Now is not the time to break stride, but to reinforce the resolve.

Energy demand is set to double this century, with the world's population reaching 11 billion, up from 7.5 billion today. As the world changes, so will the energy system that powers it, driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions and - crucially for Asia - tackle the deadly air pollution that blights so many lives.

Coal is a big contributor to that air pollution. This can, and must, change. Put simply: We will need more and cleaner energy if Asian countries are to thrive in the coming decades. Today, coal is still the biggest source of power in the region, at 47 per cent of the power mix, compared to natural gas at 10 per cent. In some countries, coal's share is rising.