The Paradox of Sustainability

The transition to sustainable energy systems presents a fundamental paradox: developing nations are expected to achieve both rapid modernization and environmental sustainability in a fraction of the time that developed nations took to industrialize. This talk examines this temporal disconnect through the lens of coal-powered electricity, comparing the centuries-long industrialization of Western Europe and the United States with the compressed timeline facing Southeast Asian and Indian economies today. This accelerated modernization timeline creates unique challenges for developing economies. The discussion concludes by exploring how renewable energy technologies and enhanced international cooperation could help bridge this temporal gap, offering pathways to reconcile rapid development with environmental sustainability.

Speaker Gita Wirjawan, Ancora Group

Attend in person or online (see weblink for connection information)