Asia resists calls for net-zero emissions

Emissions targets have taken centre stage at oil and gas conferences. But Asia has different short-term priorities despite the potential damage climate change may cause in the developing world

Unless Asia radically changes its energy mix, rampant demand growth will offset the world’s efforts to tackle climate change, delegates at IP Week heard yesterday. “Asia is the 800lb gorilla in the room,” says Peter Godfrey, managing director of Energy Institute Asia Pacific. “Economic growth is massive, more than 50pc of energy demand [growth]. Unless we solve the situation in Asia, we will not solve climate change at all.” Yet, the immediate priorities for policymakers in Asia are different from those in OECD nations. Asian governments are understandably focused on local problems, such as reducing local air pollution, nationwide access to electricity and clean cooking. To meet these ambiti