Towards a green ASEAN: challenges and opportunities in ASEAN's energy transition and integration

• Main Author: Sukhani, Hans Raj
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Thesis-Master by Coursework
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Economic development::Southeast Asia; Social sciences::Political science::International relations
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/166294
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Despite ambitious projects such as the ASEAN Power Grid (“APG”), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (“ASEAN”) has faltered on energy cooperation. Why has ASEAN stumbled on energy cooperation and what exactly are these challenges hindering the transition towards a greener ASEAN? In this dissertation, I will identify some of these challenges legal, economic, political and technical challenges, before arguing that while these challenges have persisted, cooperation in the region for renewable energy development is indeed feasible and increased integration should be actively pursued. The rationale for doing so is clear; state actors are more effective and efficient in addressing challenges together than they are on their own. Indeed, as geopolitical powers shift and the growing discourse of climate change intensifies, this topic has become all the more pertinent now and this dissertation intends to highlight this. In the growing discourse surrounding ASEAN’s energy market, this paper seeks to position itself at the nexus between environmental sustainability, energy security and regional integration. As the literature in the field expands, this paper contributes to the ongoing academic debate by positing a case study method to discuss ASEAN’s challenges to regional integration.