The Revenge of Energy Security

Reconciling Asia’s Economic Security with Climate Ambitions


On July 19, 2023, NBR and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars co-hosted the nineteenth annual Energy Security Workshop, “The Revenge of Energy Security: Reconciling Asia’s Economic Security with Climate Ambitions,” an invitation-only in Washington, D.C. The workshop considered the role for transition plans that include fossil fuels like liquified natural gas (LNG) as a bridge to future energy mixes where renewables are the dominant share, as well as country specific roadmaps that reconcile their near-term energy security pressures with long-term climate commitments.

LNG is in an ambiguous position as a preferred cleaner alternative to coal and oil, with expectations for strong future demand growth, but faces potential headwinds due to extremely high prices in Asian markets. More broadly, there are fears that in retrenching to ensure adequate fossil fuel supplies at great environmental and financial cost, Asian governments will lose focus on reconciling this with ambitious decarbonization goals. The choices the major Asian countries make will have profound implications both for traditional fossil fuel markets like LNG and for the outlook for the global clean energy transition and climate goals. Understanding what to expect in the major energy market countries including China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asian countries is vital to understanding these markets and global climate prospects.

Agenda with Speaker Bios

Download the agenda here.

Speakers Include:

Chihiro Aita, The National Bureau of Asian Research

Ryna Cui, University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability

Tom Cutler, Cutler International LLC

Erica Downs, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Craig Hall, Chevron

Mikkal Herberg, The National Bureau of Asian Research; University of California San Diego

Preston Howey, American Petroleum Institute

Hisashi Inoue, Japan Bank for International Cooperation

Neelima Jain, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Michael Kugelman, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Thomas Lutken, The National Bureau of Asian Research

Meredith Miller, DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group

Leslie Palti-Guzman, Gas Vista LLC

Prashanth Parameswaran, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Jennifer Sklarew, George Mason University

Alison Szalwinksi, The National Bureau of Asian Research

Rahul Tongia, Centre for Social and Economic Progress


MIkkal Herberg moderating panel

Panel on “Setting the Stage: Refocusing LNG Supply and Demand” with Mikkal Herberg (The National Bureau of Asian Research; University of California San Diego), Leslie Palti-Guzman (Gas Vista LLC), Craig Hall (Chevron), and Preston Howey (American Petroleum Institute)

Panel on “Assessing Security in East Asia: China and Japan” with Tom Cutler (Cutler International LLC), Erica Downs (Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs), Jennifer Sklarew (George Mason University), Hisashi Inoue (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), and Ryna Cui (University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability)

Panel on “Demand in the Global South: India and Southeast Asia” with Meredith Miller (DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group), Neelima Jain (Center for Strategic and International Studies), and Rahul Tongia (Centre for Social and Economic Progress), and Prashanth Parameswaran (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars)

Clara Gillispie (The National Bureau of Asian Research), Jeanne Choi (U.S. Department of State), Ashley Johnson (U.S. Department of Energy), and Meredith Miller (DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group)

Emadul Islam (Northeastern University; Sasakawa Peace Foundation), Thi Ngoan Nghiem (GIZ Vietnam), Prashanth Parameswaran (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars), and Tuyen Duc Nguyen (Hanoi University of Science and Technology)