Background

This is the decisive decade for actions against climate change. Catalyzing global ambitions to address the climate crisis need collective action that is immediate, bold, and fast with the vital goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A clean energy future needs accelerated renewable energy development and deployment with a firm focus on meeting energy efficiency targets as a policy goal to reap economic benefits and social good. The United States Biden-Harris administration’s bold climate efforts include the recently launched Global Climate Ambition Initiative through which the United States government is working to support partner countries in establishing net-zero strategies, implementing their nationally determined contributions and national adaptation strategies, and reporting on their progress under the Paris Agreement. As part of this ambition, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the “Energizing a Net-Zero Asia” initiative that totals over $200 million in value and commits to establish foundations for a net-zero energy grid in Asia. In South Asia, USAID through its ongoing regional programs “South Asia Group on Energy (SAGE)” and the “South Asia Regional Energy Hub (SAREH)” supports in implementation of shared vision of a clean energy and climate resilient South Asia.

USAID is hosting a side event highlighting “Decarbonization Pathways for South Asia” as a part of Asia Clean Energy Forum - ACEF 2021, themed on Accelerating the Low Carbon Transition in Asia and the Pacific. The virtual event will showcase the United States administration priorities on climate change and USAID’s role in faster and deeper decarbonization in the region. The side event will have a sectoral focus on power, industry, buildings, and transportation. It will delve into existing barriers, possible solutions, and future pathways that policy, research, and meaningful engagement can enable as decarbonization tactics.

The program opens with SAGE setting the context, followed by a panel discussion comprising government and private sector leaders, both significant stakeholders in policy and business decisions, in a rapidly changing environment.

The panel discussion will cover:

• What would it take, in terms of technological breakthroughs, cost implications, as well as, policy and regulatory environment enhancements, to commit to fully decarbonize?
• Are there technology or policy barriers?
• Are there gaps in communication when it comes to knowledge sharing data mining, and analytics?