CANCELED: ASIANET: Sustainable Asia

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Flickr, Pxfuel

Which obstacles exist to achieving effective environmental and climate regime in Asia? How is the energy challenge linked to broader political-economic churnings and international tensions? What are the impacts and drivers for Asian consumption booms? How can Asian perspectives on sustainability contribute to sustainable development globally?

Asia has for a long time been the most important growth region in the world. Rapid economic growth and urbanisation have intertwined with increased access to education and better health care to reduce abject poverty and enhance upwards social mobility for new segments of the population. It has also created new consumer cultures and habits, and new demands for products, services and energy that increase at astounding rates. Yet while almost all of the world’s most polluted cities are located in Asia, the discourse of a ‘green transition’ is important to most Asian governments. And we know for certain that East Asia will play a key role in advancing the technological shifts required to move towards sustainability, both in Asia and globally.

This year’s Asianet conference looks at the Asian sustainability challenges from multiple perspectives and seeks to bring together actors from many different sectors, professions and disciplines. We take stock of policy and progress, and analyse the obstacles that exist to an effective environmental and climate regime in Asia. We examine the energy challenge, and link it to broader political-economic processes and international relations. We consider the impact of the Asian ‘emerging middle classes’  in the landscape of consumption. And we ask how Asian perspectives on the sustainable society can contribute towards global sustainability. These thematic areas as explored through a combination of plenary session, round tables, and keynotes. Detailed information about the conference programme, speakers, and practical information will be published soon.

Contact information

Coordinator: Arve Hansen (arve.hansen@sum.uio.no)

Coordinator: Kenneth Bo Nielsen (k.b.nielsen@sum.uio.no)

Assistant coordinator: Kjersti Litleskare (kjersti.litleskare@sum.uio.no)

The conference is organized by Asianettverket (The Network for Asian Studies).