Aiding Malaysia to ensure balance between environment and supply security
KUALA LUMPUR: Ensuring a continued balanced fuel mix, coupled with focus on energy efficiency and growth of renewables would help Malaysia to ensure a balance between affordability, environment and supply security, Shell highlights in Op-ed 2017 Asia.
According to Shell Integrated Gas and New Energies director Maarten Wetselaar, US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the landmark Paris climate accord must not become a distraction from urgent global efforts to combat climate change.
“Countries in Asia were among the most committed supporters of the Paris goals,” Wetselaar said.
“Malaysia, for example, is targeting a 45 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels under plans to expand the role of cleaner energy in the economy.”
Wetselaar stressed that now is not the time to break stride, but to reinforce the resolve.
“Energy demand is set to double this century, with the world’s population reaching 11 billion, up from 7.5 billion today,” he said.
“As the world changes, so will the energy system that powers it, driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions and – crucially for Asia – tackle the deadly air pollution that blights so many lives.”
“Coal is a big contributor to that air pollution. This can, and must, change. Put simply: we will need more and cleaner energy if Asian countries are to thrive in the coming decades.”
“Today, coal is still the biggest source of power in the region, at 47 per cent of the power mix, compared to natural gas at 10 per cent. In some countries, coal’s share is rising.”
As such, Wetselaar believed that ensuring a continued balanced fuel mix, coupled with focus on energy efficiency and growth of renewables would help Malaysia to ensure a balance between affordability, environment and supply security.
Wetselaar pointed out that for Asia’s population, renewable energy will be essential to meeting growing demand while tackling climate change and air pollution.