Science Talk: Decarbonisation no longer a trade-off but a security, economic imperative for ASEAN

The region has the resources and the technologies for its own resilient and secure energy system. Read more at straitstimes.com.

NEW YORK – When the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, the story from most newsrooms described shocks to oil prices, liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and supply chains which would eventually normalise.

ASEAN countries should draw a different conclusion. Price and supply shocks have been a regular feature of global energy markets. ASEAN’s vulnerability is no longer inevitable.

Energy sovereignty, industrial competitiveness and economic resilience now point in precisely the same direction: a regional, integrated, decarbonised energy system.

Much of great power competition has been enabled by the control of oil and gas supply chains, including choke points, embargoes and targeted regime change operations.

Weeks ago, the US put Cuba in a chokehold by limiting its access to imported oil just after the US led an illegal coup in Venezuela to gain access to its oil.

We are now seeing geopolitical power reshape LNG supply chains, directing limited supply to more powerful and better-resourced states.