Energy Investments and Environmental Concerns in Southeast Asia

Abstract

South-East Asia encompasses a number of countries that have experienced rapid economic growth in the last twenty years. The region as a whole is wealthy in fossil energy sources. Energy demand in South-East Asia is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years, creating problems in terms of relations among countries in the region and environmental degradation. The fossil energy sources are not evenly distributed across the region, and consequently some countries are abundant in resources while others are poor in resources. This state of affairs means that some national conceptions about competition among countries in the region need to be overcome, and appropriate transnational infrastructure for oil and gas transportation needs to be developed. Moreover, intriguing opportunities may derive from the development of renewable energy for about six hundred million people, 8.7 per cent of the entire world population. The analysis will focus on the following countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

Keywords: Sustainable Energy Investments, Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Environment, South-East Asia, European Union, Innovation, Globalization, Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

JEL Classification: Q40, Q42, Q43, Q48, K30, K32, K33, O13, Q20, Q32