Draft 1 Reader response clean energy

In the article, “How can Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition be sped up?” Dabauch (2019) observed that Southeast Asia is slow in making progress in adopting clean energy due to challenges such as resources and population distributed unevenly over a large area. The region has vast potential for growth in renewable energy, which implementation can be accelerated by harvesting renewable energy from abundant green sources. The switch to renewable energy requires a variety of clean technology and it is further challenged by economical obstacles and policies in the region. The article suggests that nuclear technology could provide a solution to reduce pollution. In comparison to other regions, Southeast Asia is lagging in adopting clean energy even though many of its’ economy is driven by the agriculture industry which is vulnerable to climate change. With millions exposed to the perils of climate change, businesses and policymakers in the ASEAN region can work together in this rapidly-expanding region to improve quality of life and combat climate change.

While the article shows how renewable energy can be useful in Southeast Asia, it did not consider what advanced clean coal technology can offer. Furthermore, the dangers of nuclear technology outweigh the benefits.

Based on the article, “Southeast Asia's energy majors pivot sharply to green power” Yohei Muramatsu (2019) pointed out that even though companies are adopting clean energy, it will not end its coal dependency. This is because coal brings in huge revenues. Country such as Indonesia introduced measures to lower the cost of coal, this encourage businesses to continue using coal rather than investing in renewable energy. 

In the article “Clean Coal' Technologies, Carbon Capture & Sequestration” (2018), with most parts of the world heavily reliant on coal, it is difficult to remove coal as a source of energy. The use of clean coal technology can negate the effects that coal is always linked with, harmful pollutants and carbon emission. Clean coal technology can reduce pollutants and emissions, thus providing safe and reliable clean energy to the masses.

When it comes to combating climate change, nuclear technology seems to be the perfect answer. It can provide a large amount of power with little or zero-emission. However, there are many potential risks of using nuclear power. The article “The future of nuclear security in Southeast Asia” Noor (2016) notes that Southeast Asia has a prevailing issue in cross border security. This could result in the transfer of nuclear materials into the wrong hands which will endanger the security in the region.

In the article “The rush for nuclear energy in Southeast Asia: Promises and Pitfalls” Caballero-Anthony & Jamil (2007) mentioned that Japan has the largest nuclear program in Asia, experienced nuclear-related accidents despite being known to have high safety standards. Plagued by the lack of transparency and poor safety records, it will be difficult for developing Southeast Asian countries to handle such nuclear programs.

The use of clean energy does not mean that Southeast Asia should distance itself from coal in pursuit of renewable energy. Countries in Southeast Asia can continue using coal with the aid of technology to provide same or more power but with less emission. While nuclear technology can provide clean power to the power-hungry nations in the region, the danger of possessing and managing such technology has been shown in history.

  

Dabauch (2019, July 19) How can Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition be sped up? . Eco-business Retrieved from https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/

Yohei (2019,April 15) Southeast Asia's energy majors pivot sharply to green power. NHK Retrieved from https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Environment/Southeast-Asia-s-energy-majors-pivot-sharply-to-green-power2

World-Nuclear (2018,November) 'Clean Coal' Technologies, Carbon Capture & Sequestration. Retrieved from https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/energy-and-the-environment/clean-coal-technologies.aspx

Noor (2016, Dec 16) Commentary: The future of nuclear security in Southeast Asia. CNA Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/commentary-the-future-of-nuclear-security-in-southeast-asia-7662114https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/commentary-the-future-of-nuclear-security-in-southeast-asia-7662114

Caballero-Anthony & Jamil (2007,July) The rush for nuclear energy in Southeast Asia: Promises and Pitfalls. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/8378358/rsis0782007.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DThe_Rush_for_Nuclear_Energy_in_Southeast.pdf&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A%2F20191003%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20191003T160601Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=9f63779bd553bcdebfb3d4d049bab853aa1266fd57c33cc703a779802dfec08e