Assessing the Implications of a Global Net-Zero Transition for Developing Asia: Insights from Integrated Assessment Modeling

Global climate goals will not be attainable unless Asia’s growth becomes much less carbon-intensive. This paper uses a global integrated assessment model to assess how developing Asia would develop in a world that meets Paris Agreement temperature goals. It finds that a profound transition is needed, with a rapidly decarbonized power sector and a dramatic drop in land-use emissions. Benefits are found to be far in excess of costs for Asia if an efficient set of decarbonization policies is deployed.