ABSTRACT

The energy system in ASEAN will be increasingly challenged to satisfy its economic and social aspirations. The basic energy challenge facing ASEAN is three-fold: (1) to supply enough energy to meet the demand and to provide access to modern energy services for those who are currently without; (2) to supply enough energy in an efficient and affordable way that balances the needs of industrial competitiveness and human development in relation to economic integration; and (3) to provide sustainable energy that takes into account local and global environmental issues such as climate change. This chapter assesses current policies and actions taken by the region from the clean energy transition perspective and identifies opportunities to achieve greater sustainability. With the current technologies and new policies, transition to a sustainable energy future by 2030 is economically feasible. A set of actions that will accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy for economic integration include strengthening policy commitment to stimulate markets for clean energy, mobilizing private sector investments for low carbon development, harnessing the cross-cutting impact of sustainable energy development, and enhancing regional cooperation approaches to establish new standards. More integrated energy markets can multiply the gains from curbed demand and clean energy supply.