Dr. Noeleen Heyzer
Under-Secretary-General of
the United Nations and
Executive Secretary of ESCAP
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"The energy future we want
for the Asia-Pacific region
is one of
equity, efficiency and resilience."
A heavy reliance on fossil fuels makes the region particularly vulnerable to the fluctuations of international energy market prices. Recurring shocks of oil price volatility, financial and economic crises have not only exacerbated issues in energy, food and water; but have also partially reversed social and economic development gains and made the task of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) even more challenging. Recognizing this, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2014-2024 as the International Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to mobilize action on the global initiative led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Regional cooperation has the potential to help economies in the region develop an effective response to these challenges through enhanced energy trade and connectivity. The region is endowed with substantial energy resources, enjoys a sizeable market for optimum efficiency, has access to finance and technical expertise, and possesses proven experience in applying innovative approaches to sustainable development. To maximize potential benefit from these important but often mismatched resources, there is an urgent need for new and better regional cooperation on energy. An Asian energy compact – in effect, a possible game-changer – is needed to transform Asia-Pacific into an energy-resilient region. Read more
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Mr. Alexander Novak
Minister of Energy
of
the Russian Federation |
Host Country Welcome Message
Dear colleagues!
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), at its 67th session held in May 2011 in Bangkok, adopted the resolution entitled “Promoting regional cooperation for enhanced energy security and the sustainable use of energy in Asia and the Pacific.” The key element of the resolution, which was sponsored by the Russian Federation, was the convening in 2013 of the Asian and Pacific Energy Forum at the level of energy ministers of ESCAP member States.
We are glad that the Russian Federation has been entrusted with the organization of this meeting. I would like to announce that the Government of the Russian Federation has chosen the city of Vladivostok, where the APEC Summit took place in September 2012, as the venue for the upcoming Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF), which will be held on 27-30May, 2013. Read more
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Information for Participants
