[Event Information]
GSDM 65th Platform Seminar
“Global Energy Outlook and Energy Policy Challenges of Japan and ASEAN ”
16th Sep, 2015 15:00～17:20
(Ito Hall, Ito International Research Center, Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo)

Date	:	Wednesday, September 16, 15:00-17:20
Venue	:	Ito Hall, Ito International Research Center, Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo
Language	:	English/Japanese simultaneous translation
Hosted by	:	Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI)
		Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM), the University of Tokyo
Supported by	:	Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Admission	:	Please register from here.

In November 2014, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2014. With its focus on nuclear power and energy issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, the WEO has generated particular interest this year owing to uncertainties about the direction of the global economy and the geopolitics of the Middle East. While the WEOs of previous years did not analyze beyond 2030, the WEO 2015 is the first to present an outlook up to 2040. In addition, it reveals a strong sense of crisis in the energy market owing to conflicts in the Ukraine and Middle East. Moreover, the outlook contains a number of messages for Japan, by providing detailed analyses of the natural gas market and the current situation regarding renewable energy, with its strong focus on nuclear energy. The WEO 2015 is now in the final stage of preparation and, while it is normally announced at the beginning of November, it is predicted that this WEO will deal with climate change as a major theme, in addition to that, will focus on the ASEAN again.

With the uncertain future of the current global economy, the global oil market is experiencing significant changes that are having a significant economic impact. In Asia, it has become clear that Chinese economic growth is decelerating, while in India and Indonesia, whose economies have grown rapidly up to now, newly elected governments are already facing serious challenges. Amid such trends, within ASEAN, Myanmar is scheduled to hold its first general election after democratization. In addition, the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) later this year will be a major turning point for the energy sector in Asia. In Japan, there is much progress in terms of policy; for example, Long-term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook was formulated in July in response to the Basic Energy Plan formulated in April last year with reference to the Conference of the Parties 21 climate change conference scheduled for the end of this year.

For this symposium, we invited Dr. Fatih Birol, a WEO representative who became the new Executive Director of the IEA this September, Mr. Takayuki Ueda, Vice-Minister for International Affairs of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), former Commissioner of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, and Mr. Hidetoshi Nishimura, President of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). They plan to discuss policy trends in Japan and energy challenges in the ASEAN and throughout Asia based on recent energy trends from a broad perspective. At the same time, Mr. Nobuo Tanaka, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and former Executive Director of the IEA, is planned to take part in a panel discussion and answer questions from the floor. This is intended to provide an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the global energy environment and policy implications focused on Japan and other Asian countries.


Program