The decision by the United States to withdraw from Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreements with Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Africa is a setback not only for climate action but also for the broader economic and technological landscape in Southeast Asia. The implications of this move extend beyond environmental concerns. It can affect energy security, investment flows, and the growth of the region’s burgeoning technology industry. While the US retreat signals a lack of accountability from the world’s biggest historical polluter, it should not deter Southeast Asian nations from pressing forward with their own commitments to phase out fossil fuels and lead in clean energy innovation. Southeast Asia’s technology sector has been experiencing rapid expansion, with Indonesia and Vietnam emerging as digital powerhouses. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and e-commerce are among the industries fuelling economic growth. However, these industries are heavily dependent on reliable energy infrastructure, and a failure to transition away from fossil fuels could stifle innovation in multiple ways.
The US has backed out of the Just Energy Transition Partnerships. Southeast Asia should double down (Melinda Stuart, The Interpreter)
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