IMPLICATIONS ON SOUTHEAST ASIA’S ENERGY TRANSITION
In a tense political local weather rife with US-China rivalry, local weather motion is usually a key challenge that fosters or reduces grounds for cooperation.
On one hand, Southeast Asia presents a chance for the US to develop its investments within the area’s inexperienced power transition. The Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has set a renewable power goal of 23 % by 2025 in complete major power provide.
Underneath the Biden Administration, there was some progress between the US and ASEAN on local weather cooperation, via the US-ASEAN Complete Strategic Partnership and the primary ASEAN-US Ministerial Dialogue on Setting and Local weather Change in 2023.
Nevertheless, it stays to be seen if Trump will advance local weather cooperation initiatives with ASEAN. Throughout his final time period as president, the Trump administration arguably noticed Southeast Asia as a low-priority area inside the wider Asia-Pacific.
Trump’s America First strategy and marketing campaign pledges to enact protectionist measures resembling steep tariffs are prone to set off tit-for-tat reactions from China. Moreover, the US would ramp up its competitors with China in renewable power.
These developments would largely have a blended impact on Southeast Asia. We might probably see elevated alternatives and investments within the area with different international locations searching for to diversify their provide chains.
On the similar time, the area would additionally undergo disruptions or elevated prices of crucial minerals and inexperienced applied sciences following any repercussions from protectionist measures by each US and China.
