This book provides several up-to-date empirical policy-oriented studies
on assessing the impacts of climate change on various economic sectors
and the role of renewable energy resources in mitigating pollution and
climate change. It suggests various policy recommendations on how to
increase the share of renewable energy resources in the energy baskets
of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and
the rest of the world to ensure energy sustainability. As of 2020, most
of the world's energy investment still went to carbon-emitting sources,
namely, fossil fuels. On the other hand, the Covid-19 pandemic and the
economic Project Overview 20 March 2021 08:39 Page 6 of 9 downturns
shrank the global energy demand, including fossil fuels, resulting in a
sharp drop in their prices. Low fossil fuel prices are harmful to
developing renewable energy projects, making solar, wind, and other
renewable energy resources less competitive as sources of electricity.
This is endangering the Paris agreement and the "Climate Action" goal of
the United Nations. Given the high share of fossil fuels in the energy
mix of the members of ASEAN, tremendous challenges must be faced for
their energy transition in the post-Covid-19 world. The authors call for
sound policy and applicable technologies to ensure sustainable energy
availability, accessibility, and affordability to reach emission
reduction targets.
