The closure of the Strait of Hormuz showed how quickly a regional conflict can throw global energy markets into chaos. By pushing governments toward coal and biofuels, the war could accelerate deforestation and undermine climate negotiations, with environmental consequences that will linger long after the fighting ends.
Will scaling biofuels in Southeast Asia make the region more resilient to oil shocks, or does it introduce new vulnerabilities? Structural risks must be addressed as biofuels take a larger share of the transport fuel mix.
The rapid uptake of alternative fuels in shipping is outpacing international liability regimes – leaving gaps in protection against spills and accidents.
Some members of the United Nations International Maritime Organisation argue that biofuels should be central to the effort to decarbonise the shipping industry but there is nothing sustainable about it.