New Energy FinanceMichael Liebreich – 10 November 2008
Book Launch
HONG KONG, 10 November 2008 (Monday) – Public policy think tank Civic Exchange released a new book: “Climate Change Negotiations: Can Asia Change the Game?”, which argues that Asia should take the initiative to be a “game-changer” in upcoming global climate change negotiations in Poznan and Copenhagen. The book offers a range of new Asia-based initiatives which might support this process. In particular, developing Asian countries could use their national energy efficiency and sustainable development plans and targets to demonstrate initial commitments to greenhouse gas reductions.
Christine Loh of Civic Exchange outlined a proposed ‘Prosperity Round’ of climate negotiations: “Two vital issues that are needed for climate negotiations to proceed meaningfully: first, the voice of Planet Earth needs to be heard and this can only be done by including regular briefings of the negotiators of the latest science focus on ecosystems changes that are taking place and the urgency to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; and second, as the world needs to transit out of its fossil fuels-based industrial structure, a new, low-carbon, development path must be created.”
Special guest at the launch, Li Shaoyi of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) introduced ESCAP’s strategies in balancing energy security for Asia and the global concern of climate change: “Pursuing a low carbon development pathway is an effective and probably the most effective way to break the energy security and climate impasse faced by Asia and the Pacific region”, said Mr. Li.
By video link from London, Michael Liebreich of New Energy Finance discussed the importance of low-carbon technologies and recent developments on the financing of low-carbon technologies.
The book is the product of a year-long collaboration between Civic Exchange and the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), which began with a background paper on Asian climate change policy “Climate Change Negotiations: An Asian Stir Fry of Options” published in December 2007. Building on that first publication, in May 2008 Civic Exchange and SIIA invited experts from within Asia and around the world to present their perspective on Asia’s key issues in the post-Kyoto agreement; culminating in this new publication.
Full report and presentation are available on Civic Exchange website:
Full Report:
http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/200810_ClimateBook.pdf
Presentation:
Title: Breaking the Energy Security and Climate Change Impasse (by Shaoyi Li)
http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/200810_ClimateBookpptI.pdf
Title: Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment (by Michael Liebreich)
http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/200810_ClimateBookpptII.pdf
Other references:
Climate Change Negotiations: An Asian Stir Fry of Options
(Civic Exchange Publication; December 2007)
http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/200712_ClimateChange.pdf
The Emissions Game: How markets can help save the planet
(CLSA publication; January 2007)
http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/200701_EmissionsGame.pdf
Singapore Institute of International Affairs
http://www.siiaonline.org
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
http://www.unescap.org/about/index.asp
New Energy Finance