Energy is the orphan on the international agenda.  No inter-governmental organization or regime brings all the major players together to discuss how best to harmonize their energy policies.  Yet energy policy is in desperate need of better governance. 

Good global energy governance would ensure that enough energy is provided to meet the needs and wants of all, including the 1.6 billion people who currently lack access to basic electricity services.  It would ensure that the supply of energy is reliable and affordable, and that such supply does not cause conflict among nations or contribute to the abuse of fundamental human rights.  And it would ensure that the environmental costs of energy production and consumption remain within limits the planet can sustain.

On current trends, the world has little chance of achieving these goals.  Indeed, making significant progress toward any of them will be a major struggle. Market forces are essential, but markets alone cannot provide the answer. Markets fail to capture such externalities as pollution, fail to meet the needs of people who are too poor to buy adequate energy supplies, and have been significantly distorted in favor of existing interests.  The gaping institutional void in global energy policy urgently needs to be filled. And the rapid economic rise of Asia means that Asian nations must play a key role in the design of new institutions to govern international cooperation on energy.

The Energy Governance Programme examines what policies and institutions are needed to bring about a shift to a more effective, efficient, and sustainable global energy system, with a focus on the role of Asia.  It is mapping the existing institutions and comparing them to what is needed for global energy governance. Future research will include investigation of regulatory barriers to the widespread adoption of renewable and distributed-generation systems in Asia, examination of the prospects for nuclear energy in the region, and evaluation of energy options for India and China in a global context.  Beginning in late 2007, the Centre will hold a series of policy dialogues and research workshops on energy governance.