Governing just energy transitions in the Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific is a diverse geographical region yet one with a distinct identity. It is characterised by high rates of economic growth and rapid urbanisation and accounts for nearly 50% of global energy demand. Despite this, the politics and governance of energy transitions in the Asia Pacific region has not received systematic academic attention to date. Furthermore, while concepts and theories of urban transition have developed in particular places, drawing on specific experiences and conditions, there remains a need to consider how geographies of knowledge production shape energy transitions. This talk will explore how the specific historical, political, economic, and social dynamics of the Asia Pacific region shape how we understand the governance of urban energy transitions across the region and considers how questions of justice and equity come to matter in such debates. Drawing on interviews and desktop analysis, the talk will  explore two case studies: first, the role of intermediary actors in the roll out of battery storage in the ACT and second, the potential for collaboration in reaching carbon targets in Hong Kong. Overall making the case that policy makers must embrace difficult challenges of supporting rapid change while at the same time governing for justice and equity.

Format:

• 5 min welcome and introduction
• 30 min presentation 
• 15 min Q&A facilitated by Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Social Science Research Leader, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program 

About the speaker

Sara Fuller is Associate Professor in the Discipline of Geography and Planning, School of Social Sciences at Macquarie University, Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Asian Energy Studies Centre at Hong Kong Baptist University and a Visiting Scholar at Fudan Tyndall Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai. Her research explores concepts and practices of justice in the context of global environmental change, with an empirical focus on grassroots, community and activist responses to climate change. Prior to joining Macquarie University, she held postdoctoral positions at Durham University, UK and City University of Hong Kong where she conducted research on low carbon urban transitions and climate governance; Non-Governmental Organisation discourses of energy justice; low carbon communities and social justice; and energy vulnerability in communities. Her current research investigates the politics and governance of urban climate justice and she is leading a project on ‘Urban climate responsibility in the Asia Pacific’ with case studies in Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore.