Energy
Energy forms the backbone of human activity. But it is also responsible for about three-quarters of human-caused emissions of Earth-warming gasses. Fossil fuels, the dominant source of energy, still met 80% of global energy demand in 2023.
Data suggest a shift is underway, at least in proportional terms. The share of fossil fuels in global electricity supply dropped to its lowest level in half a century on 2023 as wind and solar become the fastest-growing electricity sources in history. This shift is led by China, where 40% of the world's expansion in renewable capacity occurred between 2019 and 2024. Yet, China's electricity sector burns about a quarter of all the coal used globally, the dirtiest fossil fuels.
The following are excerpts from reports conducted on Asia’s energy landscape.
All images © Sebastian Castelier
Power the 1,5 billion people nation
India 🇮🇳 - India faces the unprecedented challenge of providing energy to 1,5 billion people. Oil products - most of which are imported, mainly from West Asia - still account for the largest share of energy consumption. However, the share of electricity in the country's energy mix is growing rapidly, as 700 million Indians have gained access to electricity since 2000. As a result, electricity consumption roughly tripled in two decades. "It is so old-fashioned to not have air conditioners at home these days!" said Ravi Raman, a member at the Kerala State Planning Board.
However, there is a dark side: India still generates about three-quarters of its electricity by burning coal. As a result, 36 out of Asia's 50 most polluted cities were in India as of 2024. Beyond CO2 emissions, the combustion of coal also emits sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain, and nitrogen oxides (NOx), a gas widely recognized for its role in smog formation.
Counting the Cost of Ignoring the Sun
Kuwait 🇰🇼 - West Asia's oilmen have made their stance clear. "We are still going to be the last man standing, and every molecule of hydrocarbon will come out," Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Aramco's CEO said. "Saudi Arabia's preference clearly remains to act as little as possible, as late as possible," said Joanna Depledge, a climate change negotiations researcher. The outcome of pro-fossil fuels policies is clear: The Arabian Peninsula is a latecomer in adopting solar energy.
In Kuwait, only 0.2% of electricity was generated from solar and wind as of 2022. "In Kuwait, nothing is happening," said Kate Dourian, an energy analyst. The sunshine-rich country now counts costs of overlooking solar. In summer, factories are requested to shut down during the 11am-5pm peak hours - when solar energy is abundant - as air conditioners work at full throttle to insulate populations from scorching temperatures.
