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MANILA, Philippines, June 28, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
The Asian Development Bank will launch the second
phase of an initiative that will involve US$1 billion a year for
projects in renewable energies and energy efficiency.
The first phase of ADB’s Energy Efficiency Initiative involved
developing a rationale and preparing an initial analysis of clean
energy market and priorities, and that phase is complete. The second
phase will begin later this year and run until the end of 2007, to
develop country-level action plans.
The second phase will also develop ADB’s clean energy strategy and
action plan before the third phase (2008-2010) which will implement
non-lending and lending projects.
“Asia’s current energy development path is environmentally and
economically unsustainable,” says Anil Terway, chair of the EEI task
force. He made his comments during ‘Clean Energy Week’ at ADB's
headquarters in Manila, which was designed to discuss energy issues
and climate change.
“Ensuring low-carbon and sustainable energy consumption in the
future will require more investments both on the supply-side and
use-side that target energy generation, delivery and end-use
equipment, facilities, buildings, and infrastructure that deliver
higher useful energy outputs or services,” he said. “But there are
several gaps in understanding the role and potential of energy
efficiency.”
EEI will select projects which are consistent with policies,
priorities and targets of its member countries, and will help the
developing countries to change their energy use patterns and secure
a low-carbon future for the region.
ADB has also launched a series of consultations across the region to
assess the relevance and future direction of its policy on energy.
ADB's last energy policy was released in 1995 to recognize the
environmental impact of energy production and use, and was last
reviewed in 2000.
“Since then, the pace of economic growth in Asia has been rapid,
putting pressure on Asian countries to secure their energy supply in
order to maintain high growth,” it explains. “This and other
developments, such as the rocketing price of oil, has elevated the
need for energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of
renewable energy as key priorities for developing countries in the
region.”
The timing of Clean Energy Week is important for ADB because it
precedes the July meeting of the G8, where ADB is contributing to
development of an Investment Framework on Climate Change, Clean
Energy & Sustainable Development. The session will also share
lessons learned under TA 5972-REG (Promotion of Renewable Energy,
Energy Efficiency & Greenhouse Gas Abatement) and discuss further
development of clean energy projects.
The three-day Clean Energy Week will be ADB’s first carbon-neutral
conference, and organizers have calculated the carbon from the
event, including CO2 emissions from airplane flights for
participants, taxi rides, electricity for hotel rooms, preparation
of meals, and lighting at the meeting. At the end of the event, the
calculations will be finalized and ADB will purchase equivalent
carbon credits from the market.
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