"Moving Forward"
Closing Remarks By
Ursula Schaefer-Preuss
Vice President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development
Asian Development Bank
At the Closing Session of the Clean Energy Forum: Policy and Finance Solutions for Energy Security and Climate Change
28 June 2007
ADB Headquarters, Mandaluyong City
I. Introduction
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
In the past two days, we have discussed how energy security and sustainable development have quickly risen to the top of the global development agenda. The challenges ahead are daunting; but we can make a difference. It has been said that climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation. We have to accept this challenge and as it has been said this morning we have to prepare with our joint actions the way for a new sustainable society.
In his opening speech, President Kuroda outlined the challenges ahead of us.
Our goal has to be to provide energy to this rapidly growing and developing region in a more sustainable manner.
II. Issues of Specific Concern - Energy for All, Energy Strategy and Knowledge Management
The previous speakers, Mr. Bowman and Mr. Chander, presented the highlights of the discussion over the last two days. I would like now to take the opportunity to highlight three issues very close to my heart and which I oversee in my vice presidency.
Firstly the issue of access to energy for all. We believe that it is not possible to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) without providing electricity to the poor who currently do not have access to modern forms of energy. We are therefore paying special attention to helping our developing member countries increase access to modern forms of energy. We will formulate a new strategic approach to share the experiences of different countries and regions. We will also increase our support to successful interventions to increase access to modern energy services for the poor. This is part of the ongoing discussions on the review of ADB's energy strategy.
Under our "Energy for All" initiative we will look for international best practices to promote community-managed decentralized energy systems using such sources as mini-hydro, solar, and biomass. Where feasible, these approaches and methodologies will focus on private sector participation, new and innovative financing mechanisms, and the use of cooperatives and other community-based organizations to improve access to energy.
In this context, we can take on board many of the valuable contributions from your discussions during the past two days.
By making available affordable and sustainable energy services, the Energy for All Initiative will bring our developing members much closer to achieving the MDGs.
Secondly, you have been informed that we are reviewing our 1995 energy policy and developing a new energy strategy, one that will embody today's challenges and highlight our commitment to finding clean energy solutions for energy security and climate change. The strategy will guide ADB's future operations in the energy sector. It will place greater focus on energy security and climate change through promotion of cleaner, more efficient and less polluting sources and technologies, and greater use of indigenous forms of renewable energy. It will also address key issues such as sector policy reform and governance and the emerging needs of ADB's developing member countries.
We have started the consultation process on the energy strategy. We recently completed two sub-regional consultation workshops; in Almaty, Kazakhstan for Central Asia and last week in New Delhi, India for South Asia. The next one is scheduled for tomorrow to take advantage of all of you being here. I strongly encourage you to attend and provide us your thoughts and comments.
Your inputs are of highest importance for us in bringing as many relevant aspects into the revised strategy as possible.
Finally, the issue of knowledge management and knowledge sharing also becomes more and more important. From your discussions these past days, it is clear that there are knowledge gaps, especially related to innovative approaches to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency and finding financing solutions. To talk about knowledge in terms of websites and the internet in this context is not sufficient.
Knowledge sharing is the crucial issue! Events like this conference where we come out of the virtual world and physically meet and discuss ideas and experiences are important. ADB is proud to serve as a platform for such an exchange of experience, best practices and new ideas and approaches. Building networks to further disseminate knowledge has also to be pursued more actively.
As a precursor to this Forum, ADB hosted Training and Knowledge Sharing Session for 20 participants from 9 regional Exim Banks, which allowed them to meet with industry experts and ADB staff to discus how Exim Banks can best support their clients to get involved in clean energy projects throughout Asia through existing or possible new products and services, how ADB can collaborate with such Exim Banks in these projects, and how Exim Banks can work with Clean Development Mechanism. Yesterday you held discussions on "Knowledge Management Tools and Approaches." Immediately after this forum, this afternoon and tomorrow, there will be continued discussions on clean coal, and how to increase the use of energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps. These are example of ADB acting as a platform to share knowledge and catalyze action.
III. Global Challenge
Let me close with a reference to the meeting of the members of G-8 in Heiligendamm. During this summit, the G-8 heads of state committed to taking "strong and early action to tackle climate change in order to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system".
The G8 agreement calls on all parties to actively and constructively participate in the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Indonesia in December 2007 to develop a comprehensive agreement that includes all major GHG emitters and would take effect after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires. The agreement acknowledges the important role of clean energy technologies in achieving GHG reductions and endorses the use of market mechanisms to encourage the development and deployment of these technologies. It also encourages energy efficiency in transportation, power generation, and industry areas where ADB can play a role. This being a very important step in tackling the challenges of global climate change, and with the words of one of our panelists today to embark on a vision for a new sustainable society.
IV. Concluding Remarks
Ladies and gentlemen, having had intensive discussions and having had the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience; we now have to take some concrete actions. For us, the next steps are clearly going to focus on the two areas of policy dialogue and innovative financing solutions for energy security and climate change.
Thank you all for coming and contributing to the success of this forum. I want to thank our co-sponsors, the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. In particular, I want also to thank the ADB + USAID organizing team with all the many invisible hands in the background for having this event so efficiently and effectively organized.
Finally, let us be sure that we do not stop here. We look forward to working with our partners USAID, US State Department and APEC in preparing a follow up conference in 2008. We also invite other development partners to join us and expand and broaden our networks for the follow up activities. When we do meet again in 2008, we will report to you what we have achieved in ADB in a year. I hope you will be able to do the same.
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