Categories

    【Climate Week NYC Panel Event】 Energy Transition in East Asia: Building Resilience and Partnership

    • 2024-09-03

    Time: Tuesday, 24th September, 2 – 4 PM EST

    Venue: Blender Event Space (27 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A)

    This panel event will explore the multifaceted regional challenges faced by Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea as they strive to achieve their 2050 net-zero targets while heavily relying on fossil fuels. We will examine how these nations address the dual pressures of energy security and climate commitments, and discuss pathways to move beyond traditional concepts of energy security towards building energy resiliency.

    In addition to these challenges, all three countries share common risks from earthquakes and typhoons, coupled with densely populated urban areas. This presents an opportunity to exchange experiences on energy transition, strategies for enhancing energy and climate resilience, and the role of renewable energy in creating synergies with land use and fostering coexistence with local communities.

    Representatives from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea will share their local insights, while experts from the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and the Center for Climate and Security will offer perspectives from research and policy analysis. The discussion will also address how to promote peace and international cooperation in the face of geopolitical and climate risks.

    Panel Moderator:

    Shi-Ting Chen is a senior researcher at the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance (GCAA), dedicated to local climate action for many years. Her work focuses on environmental education, energy transition and climate advocacy, as well as local energy governance oversight. She connects various fields to foster social dialogue and collaboration between the public and private sectors. In recent years, she has contributed to the drafting of “Local Net Zero Policy Recommendations” and has lobbied local council members to participate in the “Net Zero Transition Local Alliance.

    Speaker:

    Erin Sikorsky is Director of the Center for Climate and Security (CCS), and the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS). She is an expert in geopolitical risk, strategic forecasting, and the national security implications of climate change, particularly the nexus of geopolitical competition and climate change. Previously, Erin served as Deputy Director of the Strategic Futures Group on the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the United States, where she co-authored the quadrennial Global Trends report and led the US intelligence community’s environmental and climate security analysis. She was the founding chair of the Climate Security Advisory Council, a Congressionally mandated group designed to facilitate coordination between the intelligence community and US government scientific agencies. 

    Rei Tang is program officer for climate change at the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, where he oversees the climate team’s work to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Through policy dialogues, analysis and outreach, and work with policymakers, civil society, and the private sector, Tang helps advance international policy and cooperation for a better climate future. Tang has been a part of furthering initiatives such as the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action. Before joining the Stanley Center, Tang worked in Washington, DC, researching US foreign policy and national security institutions.

    Chia-Wei Chao received his PhD degree in Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering from the National Taiwan University in 2013. His research focus are sustainability transition and industrial ecology. Dr. Chao has been actively involved in the climate and energy policy since 2007, to provide evidence-based policy suggestion for environmental NGOs. He found Taiwan Environment and Planning Association 2020 to establish a transdisciplinary platform to maximize the synergies between ecosystem service and renewable energy development. Since 2022, five environmental NGOs launched Taiwan Climate Action Network initiative to accelerate net-zero policy action in Taiwan. Dr Chao lead the research unit under the initiative. He also teaches “Pathways towards Net-Zero” at National Taiwan University and National Chengchi University.

    Mika Ohbayashi is Director at Renewable Energy Institute. Before joining the Institute, she worked for International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as Policy and Project Regional Manager for Asia Oceania, in Abu Dhabi, from May 2010 to Aug 2011. She is one of two founders of Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP), and served as Deputy Director for 8 years since its establishment in 2000. She also worked for UKFCO at the British Embassy to Japan, as Advisor for Climate Change Projects and Policies. She started her carrier in the energy fields by joining Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center in 1992, after some years work experience. She coordinates many scientific study projects, takes leadership to team up various networks including national parliamentarians and local authorities, domestically and internationally to improve sustainable energy society. She was awarded the Global Leadership Award in Advancing Solar Energy Policy by the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) in 2017.

    Saehee Jeong is the Lead of Climate Diplomacy at Solutions for Our Climate, where she focuses on advancing climate action through international cooperation. With extensive experience in policy advocacy, Saehee has worked on initiatives that promote the energy transition and address climate change at a regional and global level. She plays a key role in shaping climate diplomacy strategies, particularly in East Asia, and is actively involved in fostering collaboration between governments, civil society, and international organizations to drive ambitious climate goals.

    Hsin Ping Wu holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Resource Management from Vrije University in the Netherlands and is currently the Senior Director of the Energy Department at the Homemakers United Foundation. She also serves as a member of the Executive Yuan’s Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction and has previously been a reviewer for the Gender and Digital Learning Curriculum for the Bureau of Energy. With a long-standing focus on global energy and carbon reduction issues, her main work involves promoting citizen power plants, advocating for energy transition policies, and providing legislative recommendations, as well as leading energy education initiatives.

    Hosted by:

    Taiwan Climate Action Network
    Stanley Center for Peace and Security
    Center for Climate and Security

    Please register by clicking here

    Video Recording of the event :

    Related Posts

    Categories

    (Taiwan Insight)With its threats to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and its “energy dominance” agenda, the return of the Trump administration is set to disrupt the global energy landscape. This marks a sharp contrast to the climate legacy of the Biden administration, characterised by historic investments, governance innovation, and renewed international leadership. The Biden administration has implemented a comprehensive approach to address climate change through legislation, policy coordination, and international leadership. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, allocates $370 billion in federal incentives, the largest climate-focused investment globally. The IRA mandates that 40% of the funds benefit disadvantaged communities and enforces strict environmental standards for hydrogen projects. To ensure effective implementation, the Biden administration established the National Climate Task Force, adopting a whole-of-government approach to domestic climate policy coordination. Therefore, climate change is listed as a key pillar of the National Security Strategy and Trade Policy Agenda. The Department of Treasury, for example, proposed the first Climate Action Plan in 2021. In addition to the federal level, the local climate actions were also strengthened by providing grants to support each state, Metropolitan Statistical Area, Tribe, and territories to develop priority climate plans. Internationally, Biden restored US leadership in climate negotiations, convening the Leaders’ Summit on Climate in 2021 and fostering global initiatives such as the Global Methane Pledge and the Green Shipping Challenge. Collaborations like the First Movers Coalition also mobilised private-sector support for green technologies like steel and concrete. Within the formal UN COP process, the US also played a constructive role in formalising the “loss and damage fund” and “transition away from fossil fuel” in the negotiation texts. This progress made in addressing climate change, however, faces significant challenges as Trump prepares to take office in January. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a comprehensive 900-page policy blueprint for the next Republican administration, recommends scaling back environmental regulations, expediting fossil fuel project permits, and halting clean energy subsidies. According to Energy Innovation, implementing Project 2025 could increase US greenhouse gas emissions by 27% by 2030, adding 0.04°C of warming by 2100. Trump’s appointees for key climate and energy positions signal a dramatic policy shift. Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is nominated to lead the Interior Department and chair the newly established National Energy Council, tasked with dismantling the achievements of the National Climate Task Force. Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, is poised to become Secretary of Energy, while former Congressman Lee Zeldin is tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zeldin, an outspoken advocate for energy dominance, emphasised the importance of gasoline vehicles during his nomination announcement. Domestically, Trump has pledged to halve energy and electricity prices within 18 months, aiming to achieve this by ramping up fossil fuel production on federal lands and removing utility regulations. However, experts warn that these goals are unrealistic, given the interconnected nature of global oil markets. Internationally, Trump plans to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement once again, potentially by 2026. This retreat would weaken global climate cooperation, particularly by reducing the US’s $11 billion climate finance commitment, limiting other countries’ ability to propose ambitious climate plans necessary for closing the emissions gap. For Taiwan, climate change and energy transition have played a growing role in its partnership with the US over the past four years. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) has supported climate expos and forums, while the 2024 Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) focused on the net-zero transition. Moreover, the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade includes a dedicated chapter on environmental and climate issues. Another symbolic climate moment was when President Tsai announced Taiwan should commit to Net-Zero by 2050 at a forum supported by AIT. However, starting in 2025, climate change may no longer serve as a shared priority between the US and Taiwan, creating new challenges for Taiwan’s international climate engagement. To adapt to this shifting landscape, Taiwan must conduct a strategic analysis to mitigate risks and capitalise on emerging opportunities. One key issue for analysis is the geopolitical impact of climate change. Over the past four years, U.S.-China cooperation has been crucial for advancing global climate negotiations. If the US steps back, the EU and UK may collaborate with China to stabilise the global climate regime. However, China has previously used climate negotiations as leverage in geopolitical disputes, such as suspending climate talks with the US following Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Taiwan must account for these risks when engaging with EU and UK leadership. Another critical issue is Taiwan’s energy relationship with the US. Currently, the US supplies 10% of Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG). While the Biden administration temporarily paused LNG terminal expansions in early 2023, the Trump administration is likely to promote increased LNG exports. This raises concerns about the “lock-in effect,” where expanded LNG infrastructure could hinder decarbonisation efforts after 2035. To address this, Taiwan should establish a clear roadmap for LNG use that balances energy security with long-term climate goals. In terms of trade, electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage have been focal points of U.S.-Taiwan cooperation under Biden. While “energy transition” prioritises shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources to achieve decarbonisation, “energy innovation” emphasises advancing technologies to enhance energy production and efficiency, regardless of the energy source. Under Trump, “energy transition” may lose prominence at the federal level, but “energy innovation” will likely remain a priority of their energy dominance agenda. Advanced geothermal energy, for instance, could attract significant investment. Taiwan has recently announced an ambitious target of over 3 GW of geothermal energy by 2030. By expanding its geothermal strategy, Taiwan could strengthen energy trade with the US, balancing economic ties while advancing decarbonisation goals. In conclusion, Trump’s return to the presidency could reshape the global energy landscape, challenging Taiwan to navigate a more uncertain climate policy environment. By proactively addressing geopolitical risks, energy flows, and trade opportunities, Taiwan can safeguard its climate ambitions while maintaining robust ties with the US. Dr Chia-wei Chao is the Research Director of Taiwan Climate Action Network (TCAN) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at National Taiwan University’s Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

    2025-03-05