Low-carbon development in south asia: Leapfrogging to a green future

The growth rate for countries in South Asia rose over much of the past decade by an average 7.9% a year. That rate faltered slightly to just under 5% in 2013, but the prospects for 2014 and beyond look brighter. Yet South Asia, comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, remains the world’s poorest region. There are more people living in poverty in eight Indian states than there are in the 26 poorest African countries. Across the region, 433 million people still have no access to electricity. For South Asia this presents a tremendous challenge because energy is key to lifting people out of poverty and creating the necessary infrastructure to provide healthcare, education, sanitation, clean water, food security and employment. The good news is that South Asia has great potential for energy efficiency and renewable energy, the two promising areas where action taken now would help ensure transition to a zero-carbon world. In terms of renewable energy, the subcontinent has vast potential to develop hydro, geothermal, wind, solar and tidal energy. The report maps the clean options of energy secure region.