December 8, 2021 – December 9, 2021
The Indo-Pacific region houses five of the world’s top ten oil importers and over half of the global population. As these countries continue to grow economically, their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions will increase. Energy security must be balanced with reducing emissions to mitigate climate change, especially in a region prone to disasters.
This roundtable discussion aims to identify opportunities for regional cooperation to tackle climate change and energy security. It will explore transitioning to clean energy sources, responding to unique risks faced by the region’s island states, and assessing leadership displayed by regional powers.
The discussion will also examine wider outcomes of the recent climate change conference, given the urgency of our existential planetary crisis. Overall, the webinar will seek to address key questions around ensuring energy security while reducing emissions and transitioning to clean energy sources.
- Taking stock of COP26, what do you make of the targets announced by major emitters in the Indo-Pacific? Could they have been more ambitious? What actions are these countries taking, and can they really do more?
- What are some of the uniquely vulnerable groups and communities in the Indo-Pacific (eg. Small island states)? What are the opportunities for addressing their needs?
- With increasing major power rivalry in the region, what role can multilateral institutions play in facilitating energy security and tackling climate change?
- What role can extra-regional powers, especially the EU play in supporting the Indo-Pacific’s energy and climate assistance needs?
- New technologies will also play an important role in climate mitigation. How is the private sector contributing to mitigation and adaptation efforts? Likewise, what role can governments and multilateral institutions play in fostering innovation?
- Given their outsized greenhouse gas emissions, what are the prospects for greening supply chains in the region?
- Are there any powers displaying leadership in tackling the climate crisis in the Indo-Pacific?
