ADB to host Asian Clean Energy hub

Manila, Philippines: The ninth Asia Clean Energy Forum saw the launch of Sustainable Energy for All hub for Asia Pacific, to mobilise investment and find innovative ways to bring clean, modern energy to the people of Asia and the Pacific.

"Developing Asia is home to the majority of the world's energy poor, more than 600 million without access to electricity and around 1.8 billion people still using fuels such as firewood or charcoal to cook food and heat their homes," said Asia Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Bindu Lohani.

"But we can overcome energy poverty through sustainable, low-carbon energy means, and through this new hub we are gathering investors, innovators, and experts to make this happen," Lohani said.

The hub is a partnership of the ADB, which will manage and host the facility, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

It is one of three regional hubs under the global Sustainable Energy for All Initiative set up in 2011 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with three objectives to be met by 2030: to ensure universal access to modern energy services, double the annual global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

The hub will leverage the prevailing structures of the ADB, UNDP and UNESCAP energy programs and support countries in conducting rapid assessments, building constructive dialogue on policy, and catalysing investments and mobilising bilateral and global funds for clean energy development.

Asia's demand for energy is soaring as the region's economies expand apace and as populations move to cities where energy use is higher.

By 2035, developing Asia will account for 56% of global primary energy use, up from 34% in 2010.

This needs to be met by increasing use of renewable energy and by achieving greater energy efficiency if the environment is to be safeguarded.

The International Energy Agency estimates that Asia and the Pacific will need investments of over $200 billion to provide full access to energy by 2030.

The ninth Asia Clean Energy Forum which took place at ADB's Manila headquarters between June 16 and 20 attracted nearly 1,000 people, including policymakers, project developers, investors and technical experts to discuss sustainable energy development in the region.

A high-level ministerial dialogue with energy ministers from Bhutan, Japan, Maldives, Philippines, and Tajikistan discussed the three-fold energy problem of energy affordability, sustainability and energy security.

In meetings ahead of the forum, ADB signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency to share knowledge on clean and renewable energy solutions.

Energy access, renewable energy development, and energy efficiency are priorities at the ADB. In 2013, the ADB invested $2.3 billion in clean energy and pledged to continue investments of at least $2 billion per year.