The Asia and Pacific region is faced with a multi-pronged set of issues related to clean energy and climate, including the fact that it accounts for more than 50% of the global annual greenhouse gas emissions; bears a significant burden of the global impacts of climate change from extreme weather conditions and droughts; and has pressing needs for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development of its populations. Energy has always been a central pillar of economic development and growth, and as a result, the shift to clean energy development holds much promise for avoiding the emissions, fulfilling the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and advancing the climate commitments made through the Paris Climate Agreement, the Nationally Determined Contributions of countries, and the net zero or carbon-neutrality pledges of developing member countries.

This opening plenary session aims to highlight the contributions of and prospects with clean energy as we continue our mission in pursuing inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. It also aims to delve into clean energy’s critical and urgent role in directing development efforts towards carbon neutral pathways.

The ACEF Opening Plenary Session sets the tone for the week. Speakers and panelists will focus on current trends, along with future prospects and opportunities for scaling up clean energy in Asia and the Pacific. Presentations and discussion may cover the key challenges, such as enabling regulations for the power sector, grid integration of variable renewable energy, prospects for improved energy storage, lack of investment in energy efficiency, and barriers to scaling up private sector investment.

AGENDA


9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

Masatsugu Asakawa, , President, Asian Development Bank 


9:15 – 10:00 a.m.

Introductory Remarks

  • Woochong Um, Managing Director General, Asian Development Bank

  • Sang-Hoon Lee, President, Korea Energy Agency

  • Heather Variava, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in the Philippines, and Steven G. Olive, Mission Director for the Regional Development Mission for Asia, United States Agency for International Development


10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Keynote Messages

Frontier Clean Energy Pathways at the Intersection of Humans and Innovation

  • Sadie Cox, Senior International Partnerships Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Financing the Transition to Net Zero in Asia

  • Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency


10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Coffee and Tea Break


11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion

Panel Moderator: Priyantha Wijayatunga, Chief of Energy Sector Group, Asian Development Bank

Panelists:

  • Hongpeng Liu, Director, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

  • Reihana Mohideen, Principal Advisor, Social Implications of Technology (Infrastructure and Resilience), Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne

  • Yuko Fukuma, Senior Manager of Hydrogen Strategy Division, Kawasaki Heavy Industries

  • Jamie Leather, Chief of the Transport Sector Group, Asian Development Bank

  • Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General and Group Chief, Sectors Group, Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank

SPEAKERS


Masatsugu Asakawa

Masatsugu Asakawa

President, Asian Development Bank

Woochong Um

Woochong Um

Managing Director General, Asian Development Bank

Sang-Hoon Lee

Sang-Hoon Lee

President and Chief Executive Officer, Korea Energy Agency

Heather Variava

Heather Variava

Deputy Chief of Mission, The U.S. Embassy, Manila Philippines

Steven Olive

Steven Olive

Mission Director, Regional Development Mission for Asia, USAID

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Chief of Energy Sector Group,
Asian Development Bank

Steven Olive

Sadie Cox

Senior International Partnerships Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Mary Burce Warlick

Mary Burce Warlick

Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency

Hongpeng Liu

Hongpeng Liu

Director, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Dr. Reihana Mohideen

Reihana Mohideen

Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne

Yuko Fukuma

Yuko Fukuma

Senior Manager of Hydrogen Strategy Division, Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Jamie Leather

Jamie Leather

Chief of the Transport Sector Group, Asian Development Bank

Ramesh Subramaniam

Ramesh Subramaniam

Director General and Group Chief, Sectors Group, Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank

Steve Peters

Steve Peters

Senior Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank
(Emcee)

Yun Ji Suh

Yun Ji Suh

Energy Specialist,
Asian Development Bank,
(Emcee)

About the Organizer


The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. It assists its members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.