Carbon Neutrality, Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development in Asia

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the interconnected challenges facing the Asian continent in the era of climate change. Structured in three parts, the book addresses the critical pathways toward a sustainable future.

Part I delves into the core mitigation strategy of carbon pricing, examining the design and effects of carbon taxes in Taiwan, the impact of internal carbon pricing within Japanese corporations, and the potential for regional cooperation through joint carbon markets among ASEAN, Japan, China, and South Korea. Part II broadens the scope to energy policy and sustainable development, exploring diverse topics from the rise of climate litigation in China and the complexities of international environmental agreements, to new frameworks for energy security in Vietnam and the tensions between industrialization and renewable energy in ASEAN. Part III focuses on climate resilience and adaptation, presenting empirical case studies on the human and environmental impacts of natural disasters. It investigates the mental health consequences of volcanic eruptions, the gendered dimensions of flooding in Indonesia, the economic valuation of habitat conservation in Taiwan, and strategies for mitigating typhoon losses in Vietnam.

Aimed at scholars, policymakers, and professionals in environmental economics and policy, this volume serves as a comprehensive guide to the evolving dynamics of Asia’s path toward a carbon-neutral and ecologically resilient future.

Soocheol Lee is a professor emeritus at the Faculty of Economics at Meijo University in Japan. He earned his Ph.D. from Kyoto University and has been researching desirable energy and environmental policy design for a sustainable low-carbon economy in Asia for over 30 years. Professor Lee has published numerous articles and books in this field and has led many projects supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese government. Prior to moving to Japan in 1994, he worked for the Federation of Korean Industry as a team leader of the Economic Research Department. He has served as a vice president of the Asian Association of Environment and Resource Economics (AAERE) and as a director of Environmental Economics and Policy Studies (SEEPS). He is currently an adviser to the Korea Environmental Economics Association.

Yawen Chiueh is a professor at the Department of Environmental and Cultural Resources at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan, where she also convenes the Credit Program for Sustainable Development and Environmental Management. She serves as Vice President of Green Pine Community College and is a member of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Working Group on Irrigation and Drainage in the States under Socio-Economic Transformation. With over two decades of academic experience, Professor Chiueh’s research spans environmental economics, natural resource valuation, water resource economics, and natural capital assessment. She has published extensively on water pricing, ecosystem service valuation, and climate adaptation in the agricultural sector. Her work has been instrumental in integrating economic analysis into water and environmental policy in Taiwan, informing both scholarly debate and policymaking.

Rintaro Yamaguchi is a senior researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Japan. Before joining NIES, he worked on consulting projects at a private research firm. His research interests lie at the intersection of macroeconomics and environmental and resource economics, particularly national wealth accounting and intergenerational issues. He has served as Secretary General of the Asian Association of Environmental and Resource Economics (AAERE) and as a consultant to the World Bank. His publications appear in journals such as Economics Letters, Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Social Indicators Research, Journal of Happiness Studies, and Ecological Economics.

Budy P. Resosudarmo is a professor of economics at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics and Head of the ANU Indonesia Project at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU). He earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University and has researched development and environmental issues in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, for more than 30 years. His work examines the links between environmental change, natural disasters, local economic development, and household welfare, with strong attention to policy relevance. Professor Resosudarmo has advised governments and engaged with policymakers across the Asia-Pacific, with his studies on urban air pollution helping shape reforms in Indonesia’s major cities. He has also held leadership positions in professional associations, including serving as President of the Regional Science Association International and the Asian Association of Environmental and Resource Economics, contributing significantly to regional cooperation and capacity building.

Pham Khanh Nam is an associate professor of economics at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Vietnam, where he serves as Dean of the College of Economics, Law, and Government. He is also Director of the Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) and the Environment for Development Center in Vietnam (EfD-Vietnam). Dr. Nam is a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. His research focuses on environmental economics and sustainable development, particularly the green transition in emerging economies. He has led interdisciplinary projects addressing climate vulnerability and inclusive growth and has published widely in journals such as Journal of Human Resources, Journal of Public Economics, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, and Journal of Cleaner Production.

Jin-Li Hu is a professor at the Institute of Business and Management, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan. He holds a B.S. in industrial engineering/economics from National Tsing Hua University and a Ph.D. in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His research covers efficiency, productivity, regional studies, and sustainable development. Professor Hu has published widely in economics, management, and energy journals, including Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Journal of Banking & Finance, Energy Policy, Applied Energy, and Journal of Cleaner Production. He has been listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Elsevier and Stanford University in recent years, reflecting his sustained scholarly impact in economics and sustainability studies.