The year 2020 may have been a defining period for the transition to renewable energy. The COVID-19 pandemic is a once in a century public health emergency that pushed the 'reset' button on the global economy. Since its onset, more and more countries, cities, and companies have announced net zero emissions targets by the middle of the 21st century. While pursuing the needed energy transition, many stakeholders have rightly highlighted the need to carefully manage a 'socially just' transition to ensure energy services are affordable for everyone, including the most vulnerable people. Equally important, the energy transition must be 'secure,' with energy supply chains providing quality services for the daily functioning of people's lives, economic activities, and public services. A low carbon transition towards net zero targets must not compromise system reliability, especially as the global pandemic requires people to work and attend school from home. The global energy system today is still largely dominated by fossil fuels, with well-established conventional technologies. - blog.adb.org/blogs

A version of this article appears in the print on June 22, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.