Published : Thursday, June 07, 2012 00:00 Written by :
To exchange experiences and forge new partnerships to advance clean energy development in Asia, high-level experts and investors gathered on Wednesday at the opening of Seventh Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) in Mandaluyong City.
The opening of the forum was led by Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda.
According to ADB, Asia-Pacific has a huge and growing demand for energy. Yet the region is also highly vulnerable to climate change and related challenges such as extreme weather patterns and food insecurity. The region’s health and prosperity hinges on how it responds to these challenges.
It added that development of renewable energy such as solar and wind power is key to that, but not the only issue that needs to be addressed.
In his opening remarks, Bindu Lohani, ADB vice president for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, said that a holistic approach toward a low-carbon economy should be created and established, which will cover not only the energy sector, but also the transport, water, urban, agriculture sectors.
“We have prioritized and maximized access to energy for the poor and we must strengthen global momentum in support of universal energy access,” Lohani said.
ADB noted that the region needs to ensure that all those who need energy to improve their lives and livelihoods are able to access a safe and reliable source.
Almost 700 million people in Asia and the Pacific still have no access to an electricity supply. This lack of access holds back economic development, reinforcing growing inequality in the region.
Hosted by ADB, United States Agency for International Development, and the World Resources Institute, ACEF brings together about 600 policymakers, technology and energy experts, financiers, and project developers from 55 countries.
Discussions at ACEF will focus on technology, policy and regulation, finance, access to energy and the important role of the ACEF as a knowledge broker among stakeholders. source
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