Washington, DC, April 4, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Energy ministers and other high-level delegates from more than 20 of the world's leading economies will gather in New Delhi, India, on 17-18 April for the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM4). The ministers will collaborate to identify tangible steps that each government can take to generate more rapid progress toward CEM's overall goal--accelerating the transition to a global clean energy economy.
The CEM is the only regular meeting of energy ministers at which they exclusively discuss clean energy. The participating governments represent 90% of global clean energy investment and 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The Deputy Chairman of India's Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, will co-chair the event with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Other ministers confirmed to be in attendance include Minister Wan Gang from China's Ministry of Science and Technology; Minister Greg Barker from the United Kingdom's Department of Energy and Climate Change; Minister Martin Lidegaard from Denmark's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Buildings; and Minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters from South Africa's Department of Energy.
The discussions will focus on identifying smart policies, programs, and innovative strategies to increase energy efficiency, enhance clean energy supply, and expand energy access. It is expected that new commitments to advance those goals from participating governments and from the year-round work that has taken place through some of the 13 CEM initiatives will also be announced at the end of the two days.
A scene-setter on the first day will feature comments from the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. The International Energy Agency (IEA) will also release the 2013 version of its Tracking Clean Energy Progress report during CEM4. The scene-setter will include a presentation from the IEA on the report's findings as well as a set of recommendations for ministers. Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) will also give a public presentation to ministers on the status of clean energy investment trends around the world.
The Clean Energy Ministerial recognizes the essential role of the private sector in leveraging its expertise, influence, and capital toward clean energy goals. To capture private-sector input, six high-level public-private roundtables will be convened at CEM4 on the following topics:
- Business Innovation to Reduce Soft Costs and Accelerate Deployment of Solar PV
- Accelerating the Global Adoption of Clean Vehicles
- Power Market Evolution in Emerging Economies
- Intersection of Policy and Finance for Renewables
- Large-Scale Adoption of Energy Management Systems
- Market Barriers to Mini-Grid Development
The roundtables will bring together energy ministers, business leaders, and experts from nongovernmental organizations and academia to further identify the policies, technologies, investment, and skills needed to advance the six topic areas. Reports on the outcomes of the roundtables will be published in the weeks following CEM4.
A CEM4 press conference will take place on 18 April to announce major outcomes from the event.
The following events that are open to the public will also take place during CEM4 or on the sidelines:
An Innovation Showcase Pavilion (ISP) will highlight and exhibit innovative products and services that can accelerate the global deployment of clean energy. The ISP will be inaugurated on the evening of 16 April with Dr. Farooq Abdullah, India's Minister of New and Renewable Energy, and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu presiding over a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ISP will continue through the afternoon of 18 April.
A C3E Women in Clean Energy event will take place following the inauguration of the ISP. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) is a crosscutting CEM initiative focused on advancing the role of women in the clean energy revolution. The event will feature remarks from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy of India; Syeda Hameed, Planning Commission of India; and Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Energy Minister of South Africa. A short film on the C3E initiative and its goals will be screened, followed by a panel discussion on "Women and Clean Energy Innovation" featuring several distinguished panelists and moderated by Dr. Leena Srivastava, executive director of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
A SEAD Global Efficiency Medal Awards presentation will take place on 17 April to recognize the manufacturers of the winning products in a competition for the most energy-efficient commercially available flat-panel televisions. The CEM's Super-Efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) initiative sponsors an annual global competition to encourage the production and sale of more energy-efficient electronics and appliances.
Following the official close of CEM4 on the afternoon of 18 April, other civil society organizations, public-private partnerships, and nongovernmental organizations have been invited to make clean energy related announcements. These will take place starting at 2:30 p.m.
EDITORS
This is an advance notice to assist in scheduling. A press advisory will also be distributed on 15 April to confirm open press sections, times, and locations.
OPEN PRESS SECTIONS OF CEM4
All CEM4 events take place at the Taj Palace Hotel.
| Inauguration of the Innovation Showcase Pavilion | Tuesday 16 April, 6:30 p.m., Shahjehan |
| C3E Women in Clean Energy Event | Tuesday 16 April, 6:30 p.m., Mumtaz Mahal |
| Day 1 Scene-Setter with IEA and BNEF Presentations | Wednesday 17 April, 9:00 a.m., Durbar Hall |
| Ministers' Group Photo | Wednesday 17 April, 12:45 p.m., Durbar Hall |
| SEAD Global Efficiency Medal Awards Presentation | Wednesday 17 April, 6:00 p.m., Durbar Hall |
| CEM4 Press Conference | Thursday 18 April, 12:45 p.m., Jehangir |
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Only accredited journalists and technical staff may access the venues for the open press sections of CEM4. All members of the media wishing to attend any open press section of CEM4 or other CEM-related events must register with the Clean Energy Ministerial Secretariat.
To register, send an email by close of business on 12 April to CEMSecretariat@hq.doe.gov. Your email must include the following:
- Your name
- Your media organization
- Type of media to be represented: print, photo, radio, TV, film, news agencies, or online media
- The open press sections you plan to attend
Photo identification and prior registration will be required to gain access to events.
MEDIA CONTACT
Logistical enquiries should be addressed to:
Dr. SC Sharma, Media Contact for India Planning
Commission:
Email: suresh.cs@nic.in
Tracey Crowe, Media Contact for Clean Energy
Ministerial Secretariat:
Phone: +1 202-230-0485
Email: tracey.crowe@hq.doe.gov
Enquiries and interview bids for other attending Ministerial delegations should be addressed to their home departments.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Background information about the Clean Energy Ministerial is available at www.cleanenergyministerial.org.
The 23 governments participating in the Clean Energy Ministerial include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.