Potential topics in this session could include:

Implementation status of NDC in the context of climate change and an update on NDCs in Asia and the Pacific
NDC-related progress and country perspectives on NDC goals (country level or ecosystem/river level)
NDC related progress and city perspectives on NDC goals (city level or river level)
How to update and Implement NDC Targets in 2020

Session 1.1: Overview of NDC Implementation in Context of Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific

This section will review the implementation of NDCs in the Asia-Pacific region over the past 5 years, and will identify gaps between targets and implementation to date.

While oceans have proved to be a promising source of clean energy, they have not gained popularity or become a mainstream source of renewable energy, as have wind and solar. The session provided an overview on developments in commercializing ocean energy generation and related end-uses, such as offshore wind, marine floating solar, ocean biomass, in-stream tidal conversion, and cleaner marine propulsion.

Nearly half of global final energy consumption is used for heating and cooling applications, including industrial processes. This offers a huge opportunity to tap renewable energy for heating and cooling households and industries. Similarly, there is a need to leverage energy storage technologies beyond just batteries for electric vehicles.

With increased urbanization and rural development, waste generation and agriculture biomass will continue to increase at exponential rates. Presenters in this session provided the latest data and information on technologies for extracting energy from waste products; new biomass conversion technologies; biochar from biomass and solid waste; gasification and pyrolysis; waste to biochemical products and materials; integrated system solutions for optimal use of bioenergy and waste, and examples of smart policies and incentives.

The global market for solar photovoltaics (PV) is expected to grow by a dramatic 65-fold by 2050, due to technology innovations and policy incentives. Presenters in this session covered experiences and practices in PV development, incentives and policies, new business models and investment approaches, future PV technologies and applications, and new and emerging PV technologies.

As we continue to drive the clean energy transition, it is important to discuss how to finance large-scale renewable energy projects. Presenters in this session covered best practices in financing of solar parks, floating solar projects, solar rooftop and residential solar business models, and battery storage and virtual power plants.

It is a major challenge to cross the “Valley of Death” as an entrepreneur and to develop a company that can showcase positive results and demonstrate the ability to expand capacity to make impactful gains in the market place. Presenters in this session highlighted the challenges and risks faced by start-up companies in the clean energy industry and provided examples of how to overcome these obstacles.

Facilitating the region’s energy transition to a low-carbon economy will require innovative public finance mechanisms, particularly those that can be structured to leverage private sector financing. This session included discussions of how the public sector can support the expansion and development of clean energy financing.

Developing countries across the globe are making an aggressive push toward a low-carbon economy and have set national clean energy targets. However, to achieve their targets, they will require huge capital investments and innovative mechanisms to unlock new sources of financing.

Energy access for poor rural communities is dependent on three core pillars: appropriate renewable energy technologies, effective distribution channels, and affordable financing. Microfinance institutions (MFIs), in partnership with pro-poor energy product suppliers, can offer financing and built-in distribution channels to their existing clients, most of whom are women.

Rural poverty is almost synonymous with energy poverty—without access to modern energy services, there is little opportunity for economic advancement. Access to modern clean energy allows for more productive end uses, job creation, longer productive hours, and cleaner water and sanitation, among other benefits.