Winds of Change : East Asia's
Sustainable Energy Future

This report demonstrates that a
"climate-smart" energy strategy is possible for
countries in the East Asia region, with support from the
international community. In the past three decades, the East
Asia region has experienced the fastest economic growth in
the world, accompanied by rapid urbanization. As a
consequence, energy consumption has more than tripled and is
expected to further double over the next two decades. This
remarkable growth and rapid urbanization have led to twin
energy challenges in the region: improving environmental
sustainability and enhancing energy security. The region has
many of the world's most polluted cities, resulting
from fossil fuel combustion. The region also contains some
of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world,
although their per capita and historical emissions are much
below the levels of industrialized countries. Concerns with
energy security have grown because of increased risks of
price volatility and possible disruptions in supplies for
oil and gas. To move the region to a sustainable energy
path, the commitment of the respective governments and
communities is essential. The governments will need
energy-pricing reforms that no longer encourage the use of
fossil fuels, and put in place regulations and incentives
that improve energy efficiency and support low-carbon
technologies. The governments also will need to ramp up
research and development for new technologies to leapfrog to
the clean energy revolution. The countries cannot move to a
sustainable energy path alone. They will need the support of
the international community. Substantial concessional
financing is essential to motivate energy efficiency and
low-carbon technology investments. Transfer of low-carbon
technologies and institutional strengthening also will be needed.