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Environmental Asia, November 20–24, 2017, Oslo, Norway.IKOS - Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages,Oslo University and NIAS - Nordic Institute of Asian StudiesGlobal environmental degradation and climate change are possibly the greatest challenges of our times. They have roots in humanity's long history of creatively making use of natural resources to generate change, often with unforeseen and unpredictable consequences. As the gravity of the world economy shifts east, Asia finds itself at the center of the global environmental crisis. It is home not just to 60 percent of the world's population, but also to some of the world's most rapidly expanding middle classes in the largest emerging economies. As a consequence of climate change, Asia is already feeling the social and economic impact of intensified droughts, floods, storms and pollution.The aim of this conference is to facilitate critical discussions about Asia's environmental pathways. What interests are at stake in current environmental policies, and who represents them? How will Asian societies deal with the double-bind of economic development and environmental protection? What roles do Asian religions and philosophies play in environmental debates? How have people reacted to and coped with major environmental changes in the past, and how do they anticipate the future? By exploring these questions, the conference aspires to promote a deeper understanding of environmental change in Asia.Energy in AsiaHow energy is produced, transmitted and consumed can have immense cultural, social, political and environmental consequences. A long-term structural change in energy systems towards increasing use of renewable energy sources – the so called ‘Energy transition’ seems inevitable to tackle contemporary global and local environmental challenges. Simultaneously, a considerable portion of Asia’s population lack access to adequate energy, resulting in health deprivation, poverty and social inequality. As the world’s most populous region, the complexities of energy in Asia are in need of further exploration that moves beyond conventional technical and economic factors. We are looking for panelists from the Social Sciences, Humanities or Inter-disciplinary Studies that are interested in exploring these issues across Asia.Keynote Speakers Georgina Drew, Lecturer, Anthropology and Development Studies, The University of Adelaide, Australia Susan Darlington, Professor, Anthropology and Asian Studies, Hampshire College, USA Heiner Roetz, Professor, Department of East Asian Studies, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, GermanyCommentators for the PhD Course Susan Darlington, Professor, Anthropology and Asian Studies, Hampshire College Heiner Roetz, Professor, Department of East Asian Studies, Ruhr-Universität Bochum Georgina Drew, Lecturer, Anthropology and Development Studies, The University of Adelaide Geir Helgesen, Director, NIAS - Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Mette Halskov Hansen, Professor, University of Oslo Arild Engelsen Ruud, Professor, University of Oslo Aike Peter Rots, Associate Professor, University of Oslo Rune Svaverud, Professor, University of Oslo Kenneth Bo Nielsen, Researcher and Network Coordinator, University of Oslo&#160;Deadline for submitting abstract 15 August 2017 (maximum 300 words) For more information, please go to the conference website: www.environmental-asia.com&#60;http://www.environmental-asia.com/&#62;