Dubai School of Government (DSG), a teaching and research institution focusing on public policy, today hosted a discussion with leading energy affairs expert Justin Dargin. The talk focused on his latest book, ‘The Gulf Looking East: The Rise of an Asian Posture in GCC Strategic Energy Policy.' In his presentation, Dargin highlighted the importance of China, the world's largest energy consumer, as a key player that will reach out to major energy exporters in the Middle East. Stressing on the high potential of the Northeast Asian (NEA) bloc to become a crucial partner in energy trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dargin added that countries such as Japan and South Korea that are set to register buoyant economic growth may also turn to the GCC nations for meeting their spike in energy demand. Citing the example of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in limiting the use of nuclear energy and coal for meeting the energy demand in the NEA region, Dargin pointed out that the incidence has consequently increased the dependence of NEA nations on imported fossil fuels. He said: “The demand for fuel in the NEA nations is rising while efforts are on to mitigate an eventual situation of a deep-rooted energy supply crisis. The Fukushima nuclear disaster is just one of the catalysts in the whole scenario. Natural resources are depleting at an alarming rate in the region, making it necessary to identify a significant source of energy in the short-term. The reserves in the GCC offer the most practical solution." In addition to tabling the issues and scope of forging economic relations between the GCC and NEA, the session discussed the possibilities of enhancing cooperation between the two dynamic regions. Justin Dargin is a Research Fellow with the Dubai Initiative and a Fulbright Scholar of the Middle East. A specialist in International and Energy Law, he is a prolific author on energy affairs specialising in carbon trading, the global oil and gas market, the legal framework surrounding the Gulf energy sector and Middle Eastern geopolitics. Justin Dargin has graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center with honors for his thesis on the development of a potential carbon trading platform in the Gulf and its impact on foreign direct investment in the regional energy sector. Currently, he is completing his doctorate at the School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford. Dubai School of Government was established in 2005 to promote good governance through enhancing the region's capacity for effective public policy. Towards this end, DSG collaborates with regional and global institutions for delivering strategic research and training programs.
