One Planet, Two Realities: The Energy Transition in the Global South Featuring Dr. Atul Arya | Tangelic Talks – EP01

Tangelic Talks – Episode 01

One Planet, Two Realities: The Energy Transition in the Global South Featuring Dr. Atul Arya on Tangelic Talks

7 minutes to read

In this episode of Tangelic Talks, we dive into the transformative energy shift in the Global South with Dr. Atul Arya from S&P Global. Dr. Arya breaks down complex issues surrounding energy access, sustainability, and equitable solutions, making them relatable and actionable for listeners. From exploring innovative projects to discussing the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to cleaner energy systems, this conversation sheds light on how the Global South is navigating the energy transition and leading the way toward a more sustainable future.

A key takeaway from the discussion is the importance of local context in designing climate policies. Dr. Arya critiques the “Northern-centric” solutions often proposed for the Global South, emphasizing that what works in developed economies may not be feasible for countries with different infrastructures, resources, and socio-economic conditions. For instance, while electric vehicles dominate climate talks in the West, many in the Global South don’t even own motorcycles, highlighting the need for pragmatic, scalable solutions.

Practical Solutions for a Just Transition

Dr. Arya highlights practical solutions tailored to the needs of developing countries:

  • Clean Cooking Initiatives: Transitioning to cleaner fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can significantly reduce health risks from smoke inhalation and improve livelihoods, particularly for women.

  • Distributed Renewable Energy: Small-scale solar and wind projects can transform energy access in remote areas, as seen in the Philippines and Indonesia.

  • Innovative Two-Wheeler Solutions: Electric two-wheelers with swappable batteries offer a low-cost, climate-friendly alternative to traditional motorbikes, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Financing the Transition

The financial barriers to energy transition in the Global South are immense. Dr. Arya advocates for innovative financing mechanisms, including:

  • Grants and Favorable Loans: To make clean energy projects viable in high-risk regions.

  • Regional Energy Markets: Leveraging natural gas or hydro resources across neighboring countries to meet shared energy needs efficiently.

  • Capacity Building: Empowering local communities with the skills to manage and maintain energy projects sustainably.

Dr. Arya also stresses the need to rethink how global climate funds are allocated. “If you had one extra dollar to spend on climate change, the best value is where people lack energy entirely,” he argues, urging global leaders to prioritize high-impact investments in the Global South.

Thought Provoking Q&A Session with Dr. Arya

Yeah, absolutely I think there is. I would start by putting a little caveat, which is that in the history of energy goes back hundreds of years, and no primary fuel, has ever been retired. We still use wood, biomass, cow dung and so on in parts of the world. Actually, we use a lot of wood for energy, not just for furniture. 

So what I would say is this I think it's a bit unrealistic to say, “well, let's completely eliminate a particular fuel”. Now, I think we know that there are many challenges. For example, I'll use coal as the number one example, because coal has the highest CO2 emissions of any fossil fuel. So if you can eliminate as much coal as possible, that would be great. And, as we were talking in our conversation, doing that is not that straightforward, but there is a way to do that. So I think we need to find the right balance.

Dr. Atul Arya

Senior Vice President and Chief Energy Strategist at S&P Global

Dr. Atul Arya, Senior Vice President and Chief Energy Strategist at S&P Global

Atul Arya Ph.D areas of expertise include business strategy, commercial analysis, oil markets, energy technologies, climate change and renewables. He has previously led Energy Insight, Research and Analysis and Energy Research teams at S&P Global (Now a part of S&P Global). Dr. Atul previously worked for BP for over 20 years in a number of operational, business, technical and strategic positions around the world. His career includes international leadership experience in a diverse array of energy fields spanning strategy development, business planning, field operations and technology commercialization. His experience includes leadership in solar energy development as well as oil and gas. Dr. Atul has previously served on boards of several companies and institutions and is member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Advanced Energy Technologies and is 25+ year member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He is a sought-after speaker and moderator at public conferences, company boards and industry events and a member of the CERAWeek leadership team.

He holds B.S., M.S. and Ph. D. degrees in engineering.

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