Abstract
This working paper assesses the positive cobenefits of promoting green and clean energy in Asia. It first defines what is meant by “clean” energy across the four technological systems of cooking, renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and urban transport. Then, drawn from a synthesis of peer-reviewed articles, it summarizes at least four general types of cobenefits of investing in these systems: (i) diversification and enhanced energy security, (ii) jobs and green growth, (iii) displaced pollution and associated cost savings, and (iv) enhanced resilience and adaptive capacity to things like climate change and natural disasters. It also offers some insight to possible challenges and trade-offs that must be managed when attempting to capture cobenefits. The paper then focuses on four case studies of cobenefits that have been delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the People’s Republic of China, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore. The paper concludes with insights for energy analysts and policy makers.
Highlights
Asian countries have made remarkable efforts at increasing their electrification rate, yet energy access oscillates noticeably
The paper focuses on four case studies of cobenefits that have been delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the People’s Republic of China, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) leads the world in the largest amount of renewable energy capacity installed, and it ranks first in multiple categories of renewable energy
Summary
Asian countries have made remarkable efforts at increasing their electrification rate, yet energy access oscillates noticeably. The region is home to small island developing states like Fiji and Vanuatu that are extremely difficult to supply with modern energy services These countries, heavily dependent on diesel imports with exceptionally small electricity grids and low levels of affordable access, are spread across about a third of the earth’s surface but are home to less than a thousandth of the world’s population. This working paper assesses the positive cobenefits of promoting green and clean energy in Asia. It first defines what is meant by “clean” energy across the four technological systems of cooking, renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and urban transport. The paper focuses on four case studies of cobenefits delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the PRC, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore. Restrained private automobile ownership through vehicle moratoriums and fees, levied congestion charges for roads and expressways during peak times, and vigorously promoted bus and rail mass transit
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