APEC members convene in Tianjin to discuss Asia-Pacific sustainable energy development

The 3rd Asia-Pacific Sustainable Energy Development Forum, organized by the APEC Sustainable Energy Center (APSEC), was held in Tianjin from Sept 21 to 22.

The chief of the APEC Energy Working Group, 10 delegations from APEC members, and dozens of experts convened to discuss sustainable cities, green buildings, clean energy technology transfer, urbanization, low carbon energy, and other related topics.

The first international energy cooperation organization to be led by the National Energy Administration of China, APSEC is assigned the dual tasks of serving regional energy cooperation and supporting Chinese sustainable development projects.

APEC leaders have established two goals: to double renewable energy by 2030 and to decrease energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035 compared with the figures in 2005, said Jyuug-Shiauu Chem, chief of the APEC Energy Working Group.

Currently, the Asia-Pacific region has great demands for sustainable energy, especially clean energy.

Statistics show that by 2035, energy consumption will increase most significantly in China, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Coal consumption will reach 475 million tons while sustainable energy consumption will rise to 396 million tons.

To tackle the energy security challenge posed by ever-increasing energy demands and to reduce the harm to health, the environment and the climate, the ASEAN should increase use of renewable energy and cut down on fossil fuel consumption.

“To achieve the two goals, joint efforts should be made to promote communication and cooperation and APSEC has set a good example through its cooperative network of sustainable cities,” said Chem.

Wei Xiaowei, director of the International Cooperation Department of the National Energy Administration, stated that energy cooperation under the APEC framework was the longest-running international energy corporation mechanism in China.

Under the framework, the National Energy Administration has been actively involved in energy cooperation at all levels.

In 2016, it started to draft and develop a three-year work plan for the APEC Sustainable Energy Center and planned to build up a cooperation network for Chinese parties involved in APEC energy cooperation.

“The National Energy Administration truly views APSEC as a major platform for China's participation in global energy governance,” Wei emphasized.

According to the APEC Sustainable Energy Center’s Three-Year Work Plan approved by the National Energy Administration, APSEC is expected to set up a network for Chinese players participating in APEC energy cooperation and will continue to implement its twin pillar projects of the APEC Cooperative Network of Sustainable Cities and Clean Coal Technology Transfer.

Established at the 11th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in 2014, APSEC is one of the significant achievements of APEC’s energy sector and was written into the 22nd APEC Leaders’ Declaration—Beijing Agenda. It is affiliated to the National Energy Administration and under the management of Tianjin University.