Southeast Asia's middle-class energy conundrum

Rising demand for cooling, EVs and air travel is colliding with the region's climate ambitions

The Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok on Nov. 11, 2025. Southeast Asia's decarbonization challenge may increasingly be about an expanding middle class and growing consumption. © AP

Tim Daiss is a journalist and analyst who has covered energy markets, sustainability and geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific region for the past 15 years.