How region can meet sustainable energy goal

The Asia-Pacific region has reached a turning point in its energy trajectory. The energy solutions that have fuelled growth in the region over the past decades are no longer compatible with the sustainable development aspirations of the region's nations. In transitioning to a new era of sustainable energy, policymakers across the region face complex decisions. Supplies must be secure and affordable, and must fill the energy access gap which leaves half a billion people across the region without access to electricity.

Mitigating the local impacts of energy generation and use, however, will be vital to resolving problems such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that aggravate climate change. Solutions exist, but only through regional cooperation and integration can the Asia-Pacific transition to sustainable energy in time to meet the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Countries have committed to moving toward a more diverse and low-carbon energy mix through the 2030 Agenda and the Paris climate change agreement. However, fossil fuels remain a major part of the regional energy mix, accounting for up three quarters of electricity generation. Unless the region's countries work together to accelerate the incorporation of sustainable energy into their strategies, business-as-usual approaches will see a continuation of fossil fuel use and its associated impacts.