Southeast Asia's Renewable Energy Potential and Growth Challenges

01/26/24 • 21 min

In this episode of Energy Insights, we speak with Janna Smith about all things renewables growth, challenges and opportunities in Southeast Asia. Topics include Southeast Asia's renewables potential, where countries are doing well, what countries are leading and the challenges associated with accelerating clean energy growth in the region.
Janna Smith is a solar and wind researcher with Global Energy Monitor and the lead author of the organization's latest Race to the Top: Southeast Asia report. She has a master’s in defence and development from the University of Durham and has researched Southeast Asia for the past two years. She continues to work at Global Energy Monitor as the primary researcher for solar and wind development in Southeast Asia and North Sea countries.
Web: Global Energy Monitor

Previous Episode

COP28's Implications on Fossil Fuels and Climate Finance

In this episode of Energy Insights, we speak with Ulka Kelkar. Ulka is the Executive Director of Climate at the World Resources Institute India. She is an economist with 24 years' experience in climate change research, outreach, and capacity building.

Ulka works on low-carbon development pathways, sub-national climate action, and just transitions in small industry. Previously, she worked on climate change at the Asian Development Bank and has been involved in projects with several organisations that have worked on issues across India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Ulka's research has also appeared in journals such as the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Global Environmental Change, and Climate Policy, and Mitigation & Adaptation Strategies for Global Change.

Topics included the recently concluded COP28 climate conference in the UAE's Dubai, including the controversy surrounding the appointment of Sultan Al-Jaber as the conference's president, the final adopted text that referred to transitioning away from fossil fuels, the new loss and damage fund, climate finance, and other topics.
Twitter: @UlkaKelkar
Web: World Resources Institute | Ulka Kelkar

Next Episode

Will Indonesia's New Government Support the Energy Transition?

Energy Insights speaks with Afu Utami about the recent Indonesian elections and energy policy in one of Asia’s fastest-growing countries.

Afu is one of the founders of the technology-based political education movement Bijak Pemilu. This initiative aims to encourage voters to become politically engaged and educated, and it won the MIT Solve Global Competition in 2023.

Afu is also the founder and CEO of Think Policy, an organization that aims to encourage policy ecosystem improvement and innovation in public policy in Indonesia. It also supports the general public to understand public policy in an accessible way through an evidence-based approach.

Prior to these roles, Afu served as an environmental economist at the World Bank and a researcher at the World Resources Institute. She has also collaborated with the Indonesian government on several projects, including those related to energy and ecosystem management.

Topics include the recent Indonesian elections and the subsequent energy policies of the new incoming government, Indonesia’s coal use, nickel processing facilities, China’s influence, how young voters are perceiving the government’s energy policies and environmental issues in Indonesia and how voters are responding to current challenges and changes in Indonesia’s energy and political landscape.

X (Twitter): @Afutami

LinkedIn: Afu Utami