Energy for all: addressing the energy, environment, and poverty nexus in Asia

The fast-growing economies and escalating commercial energy needs of Asia are set to dominate global demand in coming years. Meeting Asia's growing energy needs and providing energy services to the vast number of the poor are major challenges facing the region. Energy use also affects local and global environment, which can intensify with increasing energy consumption in the region. To ensure a reliable and economic energy use while minimizing adverse impacts on the environment, Asia needs to approach the energy issues in a comprehensive manner. Thus, meeting the energy needs of Asia requires an understanding of the current world energy situation in terms of available resources, their utilization, prospects for meeting future demand, as well as the energy, environment and poverty linkages. This study discusses the issue of access to energy for all while keeping in view the energy, environment and poverty linkages. The issues covered include producing and distributing energy, as well as ensuring that the end users are able to utilize these services at a reasonable price in a sustainable manner. Based on the analysis of these issues, the study makes suggestions for the future development of the energy sector in Asia.