Energy access has long been a pre-requisite to inclusive socioeconomic progress and in recent years has been a crucial player in sustainable development. Through its Strategy 2030 and Energy Policy 2021, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expanded its support for the Asia and Pacific region to achieve universal access to affordable and reliable energy while promoting the low-carbon transition. These align with the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) that calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Efforts to achieve SDG7 resulted in access to electricity for 98.3% of the region’s population in 2022, but access to clean heating and cooling, and cooking are behind targets. Looking at the actual number of people without access underscores the need for urgent action. According to the 2024 Tracking SDG7 Report, 63 million people have no access to electricity and 907 million people have no access to clean cooking in 2022 among ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs). According to the Sustainable Energy for All’s Global Tracking Data, over 600 million are at high risk due to lack of access to cooling in 20 ADB DMCs as of 2023. Five years until the target fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is imperative to closely assess the progress, remaining and new issues, and opportunities, so all stakeholders can work better together to accelerate the realization of SDG7.

AGENDA

9:00 - 9:05 a.m.

Introductory Remarks

Priyantha Wijayatunga, Senior Director, Energy Sector Office, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

9:05 - 9:20 a.m.

Keynote Message: Accelerating Energy Access in Asia

Edwin Khew, Chairman, Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS)

9:20 - 9:30 a.m.

ADB in Asia and the Pacific's Energy Sector

Kee-Yung Nam, Principal Energy Economist, ADB

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.

SDG7 Progress in Asia and the Pacific

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

9:45 - 10:00 a.m.

Advancing SDG7: Powering Healthcare, Supporting Clean Cooking and Sustainable Cooling

Jacqueline Lam, Regional Director, Asia, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

10:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Energy Access in Remote Areas & Decentralized Renewable Energy

Deepak Mohapatra, Senior Officer, Business and Market Development, Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE)

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.

Experiences and Lessons Learned on e-Cooking Projects

Wilm Romph, Chief Technology Officer, ATEC

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Coffee / Tea Break

11:00 - 12:25 p.m.

Panel Discussion and Q&A

Moderator: Kee-Yung Nam, Principal Energy Economist, ADB

Panelists:

Edwin Khew, Chairman, SEAS

Hongpeng Liu, Director, Energy Division, UNESCAP

Jacqueline Lam, Regional Director, Asia, SEforALL

Deepak Mohapatra, Senior Officer, Business and Market Development, ARE

Wilm Romph, Chief Technology Officer, ATEC

12:25 - 12:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Hongpeng Liu, Director, Energy Division, UNESCAP

SPEAKERS

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Senior Director, Energy, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Edwin Khew

Edwin Khew

Chairman, Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore

Kee-Yung Nam

Kee-Yung Nam

Principal Energy Economist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Hongpeng Liu

Hongpeng Liu

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

Jacqueline Lam

Jacqueline Lam

Regional Director for Asia, Sustainable Energy for All

Deepak Mohapatra

Deepak Mohapatra

Senior Officer - Business & Market Development, Alliance for Rural Electrification

Wilm Rompf

Wilm Rompf

CTO, ATEC Australia International Pty Ltd

PRESENTATIONS