Shorenstein APARC is launching a new multiyear dialogue aimed at enhancing cooperative approaches to issues of common concern among nations in the Asia-Pacific region.Our inaugural gathering in 2009 will focus on the critical nexus of energy and environment. We will examine how to meet the rapidly growing demand for energy throughout Asia while coping with the threat of climate change, amid a global economic downturn.

The dialogue will bring together distinguished experts from Stanford and Silicon Valley, top specialists from around the region, and leaders in various fields such as business, politics, academia, and media.The meeting will begin with an exploration of the influence of energy competition on international relations in Asia.After establishing the geopolitical context the group will explore new ideas on how to promote energy efficiency, clean technology, and the reduction of carbon emissions.

The dialogue will look closely at the Japanese experience in the development and dissemination of energy efficient and pollution-control technologies, critical elements of meeting growing demands for energy without causing greater harm to the environment. We will discuss how the United States, under the new Obama administration, may contribute more to the reduction of carbon emissions and the advance of alternative energy technologies.And we will analyze how the growing energy consumers in developing Asia can join a post-Kyoto Protocol that effectively mitigates the environmental impact of energy use and reduces the tensions arising from competition for energy resources.

Contact
Benjamin Self