Tackling climate change will not be possible without a significant contribution from Asia. According to economic forecasts, Asia’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions will grow dramatically in the coming decades. There is a growing interest in renewable energy in many parts of Asia. Greater use of renewable energy may lead to more socially and environmentally just energy structures. India is the second-largest consumer of coal, and the third-largest greenhouse gas emitting country. The Indian government is calling for far greater investment in renewable energy. Despite this development towards a cleaner energy system, India still needs to address a broad variety of challenges.

However, little is known about the actual social and political contributions, costs and implications of renewable energy expansion. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has examined these questions with a series of country studies in Asia. The studies look at the political and social factors that drive—but also hamper—socially just energy transitions. The contributing countries are China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.