As with many other subjects, the academic and policy discourse on climate and energy transitions is dominated by the Global North. Yet, it is clear that different parts of the world face different challenges in tackling climate change, and therefore call for tailor-made solutions that are relevant to the regional context.

Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world while also being one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Its emissions are projected to more than double in the next few decades under a business-as-usual scenario, largely due to increases in population and economic growth.

While Southeast Asia has enormous potential for renewable energy generation, the region must deal with its ageing electricity infrastructure, outdated regulatory environment and other barriers to financing lowcarbon energy projects, while addressing the threats to energy justice during the transition. Diversity of energy market structures and growing resource nationalism may also pose challenges for the realization of the ASEAN Power Grid, a long-standing shared goal for a regional power network that offers the potential to greatly accelerate the integration of renewable sources.

To address region-specific energy and decarbonization issues, we need platforms that encourage knowledge generation and exchange within the Southeast Asian context. As a modest step in this direction, this book is the second volume in the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Compendium Series, which provides opportunities for early and midcareer academics and practitioners to explore current topics and develop policy-relevant recommendations under the guidance of experts in the field.