Affordable and Clean Energy

La publication propose une méthode de classification de l’hydrogène nécessaire pour relancer la production et le commerce international de l’hydrogène. Il présente également plusieurs idées de projets dans certains États membres de la CEE qui permettraient d'accélérer le déploiement de l'hydrogène.

SDG 7 offers an overarching framework to track the region’s sustainable energy development.

The 2025 Regional Trends Report on Energy for Sustainable Development: Transforming Energy Systems for a Low Carbon Future in Asia and the Pacific offers an extensive analysis of the region’s progress and challenges in moving towards a low carbon energy future. It examines, in detail, the region’s progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy) and in advancing the just energy transition. Despite significant progress in electricity access across nearly all countries in the region and with many national examples of accelerated renewable energy deployment, challenges exist, particularly in achieving universal access to clean cooking and improving energy efficiency. A just, equitable and inclusive transition necessitates accelerated action by governments, substantial investments and enhanced regional collaboration. To support the realization of a low-carbon future, the recommendations of this report are aligned with the outcomes of COP28, where countries committed to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvement rates by 2030. The Asia-Pacific region plays a critical role in achieving these global targets, as it is home to over 4.3 billion people and consumes more than half of the world’s energy.

A just energy transition in Asia and the Pacific requires deliberate and inclusive strategies that centre the needs of workers, communities and vulnerable populations. This involves ensuring access, enabling workforce transition, empowering local actors and embedding fairness in governance and finance. With political commitment and cross-sector collaboration, countries can not only meet their decarbonization goals but also build more equitable, cohesive and resilient societies.

The Asia-Pacific region stands at a significant point in its pursuit of a sustainable and just energy future. Over the past decade, remarkable strides have been made in advancing energy access, expanding renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency. These achievements reflect the strong commitment of governments and partners.

The transport sector is a significant contributor to global emissions. In 2019, direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector accounted for 23 per cent of global energy-related CO2 emissions (Jaramillo et al. 2022). Most of these emissions come from road transport. The third part of the Sixth Assessment Report of IPCC titled “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change” released in April 2022 suggested that without intervention, CO2 emissions from transport could grow between 16 per cent and 50 per cent by 2050. To meet the Paris Agreement’s objective of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, it is necessary to achieve rapid decarbonization in all sectors, including transportation. However, the transport sector is currently experiencing a rise in energy demand and GHG emissions, outpacing all other sectors except for industry, and is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Transitioning to an electric vehicle (EV)-based transport system is an approach that can achieve GHG emissions reductions at the scale necessary to decarbonize transport. This shift would also significantly reduce vehicle pollutant emissions and dependence on fossil fuel imports for transport. The publication explores the transformative impact of electric mobility in the transportation sector, focusing on how electric vehicles (EVs) are reshaping industry dynamics and aligning with sustainable development goals. It discusses the drivers behind EV adoption, including political and environmental factors, and details various policy instruments, such as incentives and regulations, across multiple transport modes. Additionally, it assesses the infrastructure needed for EVs, emphasizing the importance of expanding and standardizing charging solutions.

While the EV revolution is undoubtedly a critical step towards sustainable mobility, it fails to directly address two major challenges plaguing urban environments: traffic congestion and parking shortages.

Both passenger and freight EVs have a role to play in the transition towards sustainable transportation. While progress has been made in the development of both, passenger EVs are currently more advanced than their freight counterparts.