Opening Plenary

Time for Action Now

Tuesday, 4 June 2024

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (GMT +8) | Auditorium Halls 1-4


Governments in Asia and the Pacific continue to face a multi-pronged set of complex issues related to the clean energy transition and climate change. More than 50% of the global annual greenhouse gas emissions are from this region, which also bears a significant burden of the global impacts of climate change from extreme weather conditions and droughts. At the same time, governments in this region and globally have recently raised their ambitions and commitments for action on climate change, and it is now time for urgent action to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C within reach.

The ACEF Opening Plenary Session sets the tone for the week. This opening plenary session will highlight the challenges and prospects for dramatically scaling up the financing of clean energy solutions while continuing to pursue the goal of more inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. The session will delve into the critical role of clean energy in directing development efforts towards carbon neutral pathways.

Speakers in the plenary come from governments, the private sector and leading international organizations. They will describe current trends and share their views on future prospects and opportunities for rapidly scaling up clean energy in Asia and the Pacific within an increasingly complex global energy landscape. Presentations and discussions will cover the key global challenges, such as establishing quick-win policies, accelerating the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency, innovative financing models, transforming energy markets through improved governance and reforms, supporting innovative technologies and business models, and leveraging more on private sector investment to move from billions to trillions.

AGENDA


9:00 - 9:08 a.m.

Welcome to ACEF

ACEF Video Introduction

Emcee: David Morgado, Senior Energy Specialist, Sectors Group, Asian Development Bank (ADB)


9:08 - 9:14 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

Masatsugu Asakawa, President, ADB


9:14 - 9:28 a.m.

Ministerial Keynote Speakers

Terje Aasland, Minister of Energy, Norway

Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy, Cambodia


9:28 - 9:52 a.m.

Introductory Remarks by Co-Organizers

Fatima Yasmin, Vice-President, Sectors and Themes, ADB

Boonam Shin, Executive Director, Korea Energy Agency (KEA)

Michael Schiffer, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Asia, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)


9:52 - 10:02 a.m.

Audience Pulse

Audience interaction with Mentimeter to know the audience and gauge expectations (polling to understand audience diversity and opinions, word clouds, etc.)

Peter du Pont, Co-CEO, Asia Clean Energy Partners


10:02 - 10:30 a.m.

Keynote Addresses

Sione Pulotu ‘Akauola, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Tonga

Manu Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Energy Department, India

Kavita Sinha, Director of the Private Sector Facility, Green Climate Fund


10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break


11:00 - 11:20 a.m.

Keynote Address

Satoru Harada, Chief Operating Officer, Power Division, Marubeni Corporation

Ma Jun, Founder and President, Institute of Finance and Sustainability


11:20 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: From Billions to Trillions of Dollars!

Moderator: Priyantha Wijayatunga, Senior Director, Energy Sector Office, Sector Groups, ADB

Panelists:

Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General and Group Chief, Sectors Group, Asia and the Pacific, ADB

Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Undersecretary, Philippines Department of Energy

Md. Habibur Rahman , Senior Secretary, Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh

Cindy Lim, Chief Executive Officer, Keppel Infrastructure Holdings

Yongping Zhai, Senior Advisor, Tencent

SPEAKERS

Masatsugu Asakawa

Masatsugu Asakawa

President, Asian Development Bank

Terje Aasland

Terje Aasland

Minister of Energy, Norwegian Ministry of Energy

H.E. Keo Rottanak

Keo Rottanak

Minister, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Cambodia

Fatima Yasmin

Fatima Yasmin

Vice-President, Sectors and Themes, Asian Development Bank

Shin Boonam

Shin Boonam

Executive Director, Korea Energy Agency

Michael Schiffer

Michael Schiffer

Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Asia, USAID

Sione Akauola

Sione Akauola

Chief Executive Officer, MEIDECC, Tonga

Manu Srivastava

Manu Srivastava

Additional Chief Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Energy Department, India/p>

Kavita Sinha

Kavita Sinha

Director, Private Sector Facility, Green Climate Fund

Satoru Harada

Satoru Harada

Chief Operating Officer, Power Div, Marubeni Corporation

Ma Jun

Ma Jun

Founder and President, Institute of Finance and Sustainability, Chairman of Sprinkles (HK) Charity Foundation

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Senior Director, Energy Sector Office, Asian Development Bank

Ramesh Subramaniam

Ramesh Subramaniam

Director General and Chief, Sectors Group, Asian Development Bank

Rowena Cristina Gue

Rowena Cristina Guevara

Undersecretary, Department of Energy (DOE)

Md. Habibur Rahman

Md. Habibur Rahman

Senior Secretary, Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh

Cindy Lim

Cindy Lim

Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure, Keppel Infrastructure Holdings

Yongping Zhai

Yongping Zhai

Senior Advisor, Tencent

David Morgado

David Morgado

Senior Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank

(Emcee)

Peter Du Pont

Peter du Pont

Co-CEO,
Asia Clean Energy Partners

(Emcee)