From industrialized East Asia to rapidly growing Southeast and South Asia, the green transition poses a daunting task amid competing domestic priorities, a fragmenting economic landscape, and rising geopolitical tensions. As energy demand in the region continues to rise, policymakers face a multifaceted challenge to decarbonize while continuing to prioritize economic growth. In recent years, the US and China have taken increasingly divergent approaches to green energy, forcing Asia Pacific countries to make difficult decisions.
The US is cutting its support for renewable energy and pushing fossil fuel dependency globally. Meanwhile, China is leading renewable energy and dominating the green supply chain, causing economic and technological dependencies for countries seeking to decarbonize. Against this backdrop, governments are having crucial policy debates on how to ensure the long-term sustainability, security, and resilience of their countries’ economies and energy systems.
From Research…
To examine how growth, security, and sustainability intersect, CAPRI and CAPRI USA are launching a 4-year comparative study to identify innovative approaches that accelerate the green transition while supporting economic dynamism, national security, and societal resilience in the Asia Pacific.
By conducting in-depth profiles on Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan, this project aims to understand how Asia-Pacific countries are balancing these interrelated priorities and addressing the challenges of transitioning to green energy.
Experts from each of the six countries will examine
The factors that national leaders must consider to balance economic, security, and climate priorities
The roles of the private sector—across the energy, transportation, manufacturing, and finance industries—in enabling green industrial policy
Opportunities for regional economic partnerships and collaboration across countries and sectors to support green growth amid geopolitical uncertainty
The initiative will also involve thematic reports on the green supply chain, climate finance, workforce transformation, the emergence of AI, and subnational energy governance. These research reports are designed to highlight how many elements of the energy transition are transnational yet exert pressure on national governments, shaping the regional dynamics of green energy.
…To Impact
This project will not only involve rigorous comparative analysis but also promote dialogue that can shape real-world decisions, including engagement with leaders across governments, industry, academia, and civil society in the form of expert roundtables and public forums.
This combination of comprehensive research with proactive engagement will enable us to reinforce that the green transition is a shared challenge requiring integrated, innovative policy–driven solutions.
