Evaluation Knowledge Brief on Greenhouse Gas Implications of ADB's Energy Sector Operations

Date: October 2009
Type:
Country:
Subject:
ADB administration and governance; Evaluation; Environment
Series: Evaluation Knowledge Studies

Description


Pradeep Perera and Kapil Thukral discuss the findings of an evaluation report on green house gas implications of ADB's energy sector operations.

While activity in most development sectors contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are widely held responsible for global climate change, the energy sector stands out for its direct contribution to such emissions.
 
This evaluation knowledge brief looks at ADB’s energy sector assistance during 2001–2008—from the perspective of greenhouse gas emissions—in Bangladesh, the People’s Republic of China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, which account for 80% of lending approvals in the sector.
 
ADB began shifting its operational focus to energy and other infrastructure sectors in 2006 in response to the growing need in countries in Asia and the Pacific eager to fuel booming economies. At the same time, it also formally recognized the need for more focused promotion of clean energy and energy-efficient investments through the launch of the energy efficiency initiative, aiming to increase assistance to clean energy projects to $1 billion by 2008.
 
ADB has several vital roles to play in promoting more efficient low-carbon technologies as they become commercially available. It can encourage the shift away from fossil fuels, help defer the significant costs of new technologies until they are commercially viable, and help spread knowledge and capacity for using the technologies.
 
This evaluation study recommends that ADB use a consistent framework at project appraisal and project completion to assess the greenhouse gas implications of future energy sector investments with significant greenhouse impacts or savings.
 
It also recommends that ADB help scale up affordable renewable energy technologies by supporting regional research, the testing of new technologies in selected countries, greater deployment of new technologies through technology transfer, and regional manufacturing of packaged renewable energy products and sub assemblies.

Contents

  • Executive Summary
  • Evaluation Focus
  • Contextual and Strategic Assessment
  • ADB's Energy Sector Strategies and Operations
  • Greenhouse Gas Accounting Methodologies and Efficiency Estimates
  • Greenhouse Gas Efficiency Estimates
  • Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Efficiency of ADB's Energy Sector Operations
  • Key Findings and Recommendations
  • Appendixes
  • Supplementary Appendixes