Asia’s growing demand for energy will result in an environmental catastrophe unless governments adopt a radical change of thinking, a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has concluded.

If the Asian economy expands as predicted, the region will go from using 34 per cent of global energy supplies today to up to 56 per cent by 2035.

“Asia could be consuming more than half the world’s energy supply by 2035, and without radical changes carbon dioxide emissions will double,” said ADB Chief Economist Changyong Rhee.

“Asia must both contain rising demand and explore cleaner energy options, which will require creativity and resolve, with policymakers having to grapple with politically difficult issues like fuel subsidies and regional energy market integration.”

If by 2035 Asia merely expands energy access without fundamentally changing the way it consumes, the report predicts the region’s oil consumption will double, natural gas consumption will triple, and coal consumption will rise a whopping 81%, with costly and devastating environmental impacts.

It also calls for a greater focus on green, energy-efficient cities and transport systems.

The report says Asia is recovering from the slowdown of the previous year, helped by the rebound in China.  Inflation is expected to rise but is under control, with the biggest threat to stability caused by political tensions.

The full report can be found here

http://wcm.adb.org/publications/asian-development-outlook-2013-asias-energy-challenge