Research Database

Coal remains a major source of electricity production even under the current state of developments in climate policies due to national energy priorities. Coal remains the most attractive option, especially to the developing economies in Southeast Asia, due to its abundance and affordability in the region, despite the heavily polluting nature of this energy source. Gasification of coal running on an integration gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power generation with carbon capture and storage (CCS) represents an option to reduce the environmental impacts of power generation from coal, but the decarbonization potential and suitability of IGCC in the context of Southeast Asia remain unclear. Using Singapore as an example, this paper presents a study on the life cycle analysis (LCA) of IGCC power generation with and without CCS based on a generic process-driven analysis method. We further evaluate the suitability of IGCC with and without CCS as an option to address the energy and climate objectives for the developing economies in Southeast Asia. Findings suggest that the current IGCC technology is a much less attractive option in the context of Southeast Asia when compared to other available power generation technologies, such as solar photovoltaic systems, coal with CCS, and potentially nuclear power technologies.

This article analyses climate mitigation impact once the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) introduce their respective Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) using dynamic non-linear computable general equilibrium modelling and 2010 input-output tables. The results indicate that atmospheric concentration of carbon and temperatures under the business as usual (BAU) scenario will fall from 390 PPM and 0.80°C respectively in 2010 to 351PPM and 0.79°C respectively, whereas under the optimal scenario it will fall to 329PPM and 0.71°C respectively in 2060. Cumulative climate damage under BAU and optimal scenarios will remain the same at MYR8.0 Billion, MYR14.3 Billion and MYR 24.8 Billion respectively in 2010, 2015 and 2020 but it will rise after that to MYR579 Billion under the former compared to MYR513 Billion under the latter in 2060. The reduction in carbon emissions shall also be achieved without a tangible fall in GDP per capita.

Global warming has emerged as one of the most serious threats to the existence of humankind. There is also increasing acknowledgement that old arguments that focused on the exhaustion of economic resources and changing dynamics of utility are no longer necessary and useful in confronting climate change. This article reviews the main arguments that have shaped recent global initiatives on mitigating climate change and global warming. The increasing introduction of climate change mitigation initiatives comes from the recognition that such initiatives no longer require reducing economic growth. Fortunately, recent developments appear promising as the majority of the world's nations pledged at the Paris Accord of 2015 to check environmental degradation. Consequently, individual signatories have supplied intended national determined contribution proposals to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change to cap temperature rise to 1.5 ˚C over the next century.

The development of renewable energy policies is necessary to ensure secure and sustainable energy supplies at reasonable costs and to address issues related to global climate change. Since the year 2000 in Malaysia (time of the 8th Malaysian Plan), renewable energy has been included as a key fifth element in the country's fuel policy along with hydro, coal, gas, and oil, and a target of obtaining 5% of the total energy supply from renewable sources was set, although it has not yet been reached.This work explores public opinions regarding climate change and renewable energy in Peninsular Malaysia. Probability sampling and a stratified technique were used to conduct a survey with subjects aged 20 years and over with higher education qualifications. The results showed that the majority of Malaysians are concerned about climate change and have heard about renewable energy. However, only two out of five people in Peninsular Malaysia have used renewable energy products. This finding can be explained by the high price of renewable energy products, lack of knowledge about government policies, and ineffective programs and initiatives.

The development of renewable energy policies is necessary to ensure secure and sustainable energy supplies at reasonable costs and to address issues related to global climate change. Since the year 2000 in Malaysia (time of the 8th Malaysian Plan), renewable energy has been included as a key fifth element in the country's fuel policy along with hydro, coal, gas, and oil, and a target of obtaining 5% of the total energy supply from renewable sources was set, although it has not yet been reached. This work explores public opinions regarding climate change and renewable energy in Peninsular Malaysia. Probability sampling and a stratified technique were used to conduct a survey with subjects aged 20 years and over with higher education qualifications. The results showed that the majority of Malaysians are concerned about climate change and have heard about renewable energy. However, only two out of five people in Peninsular Malaysia have used renewable energy products. This finding can be explained by the high price of renewable energy products, lack of knowledge about government policies, and ineffective programs and initiatives.