(CNN Business)In Sri Lanka, people wait miles to fill a fuel tank Put in the queue. In Bangladesh, the store closes at 8 pm. Save energy. In India and Pakistan, power outages close schools, businesses are closed, and residents get hot and humid without air conditioning due to deadly heat waves with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).
These are just a few of the more eye-catching scenes unfolding in the Asia-Pacific region, where different countries are facing the worst energy crises in years. Knock-on increases living expenses.
In Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the sense of crisis is clear. Public anger has already resigned the ministerial wave in Colombo and contributed to the downfall of Imran Khan as Prime Minister in Islamabad.
Elsewhere in the area, the signs of the problem may not be so obvious, but they can still have widespread consequences. Even in relatively wealthy countries like Australia, economic concerns are beginning to emerge as consumers feel a pinch of higher energy prices.
However, India's experience of recent record highs in electricity demand gives the clearest reason why this is a global crisis rather than a regional one.
The world's third-largest carbon emitter, suffering from widespread outages in record temperatures, said on May 28 that state-owned Coal India would import coal for the first time since 2015. Announced.
{36 What is the cause of the problem?
Fundamentally, experts say the problem lies in the growing mismatch between supply and demand.
But now that countries are starting to boost the pandemic, fuel demand is skyrocketing. Due to sudden competition, coal, oil and gas prices have reached record highs.
"Energy demand recovered very quickly from the coronavirus and faster than supply," said Samantha Gross, director of the Brookings Institution's Energy Security and Climate Initiative. increase.
"Therefore, there were highs (but at that time) before Russia invaded Ukraine, but the energy supply was really shocking. Various actions taken in response. Is a real challenge to the world's energy supply. "
Why Asia?
"If you have to buy these goods, buy oil, buy natural gas in a country, especially in emerging economies like Sri Lanka, this is a real struggle." Said Mark Zandy. , Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics.
"You are paying more for what you need, but what you are selling is not rising, so you are paying more to try to buy the same. Keep the economy moving. ”
Poor countries that are still developing or industrialized are only less capable of competing with their deeper pocket rivals. At the Global Energy Policy Center at Columbia University.
"So Pakistan certainly fits there. I think Sri Lanka fits there too," he said. "They are hitting prices, but they are also hitting supplies. They have to pay more for energy supplies, and in some countries like Pakistan, they actually procure energy. I'm having a hard time doing it. "
Coal mine canary
This dynamics is behind the increasingly chaotic scenes in these countries. It is in.
Pakistan Also needed to reduce that working week — going back from 6 to 5 days, but things might just get worse. The recently introduced six-day week was supposed to increase productivity and boost the economy.
Instead, hours of power outages every day afflict a country of 220 million people for at least a month, and Pakistan's largest city, Karachi's malls and restaurants, close early to save fuel. I was told to do it.
And the idea that such a problem is only a poor, developing country problem is dispelled by the Australian experience. Australia is one of the countries with the highest median world wealth per adult in the world.
Since May, "Lucky Country" has been operating without 25% of its coal-based energy capacity. This is due to unplanned outages due to supply interruptions and soaring prices, although there are also planned outages for maintenance.
Australians are now in demand for savings, as are their compatriots in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Energy Minister Chris Bowen recently sent electricity to households in New South Wales, including Sydney, for two hours each night. I'm asking you not to use.
Bigger problems in the future
How these countries respond may be causing even greater problems than rising prices. I have.
Under public pressure, governments and politicians may want to turn back to cheaper and more polluted energy, such as coal, regardless of their impact on climate change.
And there are signs that this may have already begun.
Both measures have been criticized by those who accuse the government of betraying its commitment to renewable energy.
In India, a country of 1.3 billion people that depends on coal for about 70% of its energy production, New Delhi's decision to increase coal imports could have even more serious environmental implications. I have.
Scientists say that significant reductions in coal mining are needed to limit the worst effects of global warming, which is one of the world's largest carbon emitters. It will be difficult to achieve unless you agree with.
"Double all types of fossil fuels in any country, India, Germany, or the United States will run out of carbon budgets. This is a global problem," Sandeep Pai said. Says. , Senior Research Leader of Energy Program, Strategic International Research Center.
Pai said India's decision was only a temporary "crisis response", but if the country continued to rely on coal a year or two later, it would be global warming. Will have a great impact on the war with.
"If these actions occur, we will run out of carbon budgets that are already shrinking in India, and the 1.5 or 2 degree goal will become even more difficult," Pai said in Paris. Mentioned and stated the goals of the agreement. Keeps the world's average temperature rise between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius.
As Pai said, "India's size, size and demand mean that when coal actually doubles, it poses a very serious problem in terms of climate.
