LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is gearing for a Cebu Declaration that will propose concrete measures for a sustainable energy environment and improve energy infrastructure and investments in the region.
The 12th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting is happening on October 13, Tuesday.
“At the end of the APEC ministers’ meeting, we hope to have the Cebu Declaration approved by each one of them [economies],” Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson said.
The Cebu Declaration will have these key elements: resiliency of energy infrastructures, energy investments, low carbon development / clean energy technologies, energy-water nexus, eco-tourism sites, regional standards on energy products and services, inventory and mapping of energy resources, human resources development, and gender fair approaches in energy.
As part of the preparation for the declaration, Ayson said several consultations were made across the country, so the energy ministers can incorporate the Philippine perspective on how they can progress in energy efficiency and sustainability.
The undersecretary assured that the declaration has taken into consideration the “concerns” from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The consultations were conducted through the help of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This year’s APEC energy meeting will have four sub-themes: climate-proofing energy infrastructures, advancing cutting edge energy efficiency technologies, promoting community-based clean energy use in energy-poverty stricken areas, and improving energy trade and investment in APEC.
Ayson said during a pre-event press briefing the boosting of energy investments in the Asia-Pacific region is “the heart of APEC.”
She added that APEC economies must learn from their experiences in the past and focus on issues that will ensure a sustainable energy program for all 21 members.
Aside from the focus on energy trade and investments, Ayson said that the ministers will address energy issues that affect the business environment of the region, especially pertaining to natural disasters.
It will also have recommendations for energy-saving capabilities, as well as promote access to “clean energy.”
“Clean energy access [and other forms of clean energy] is a concern for all of us because we want to attain a low carbon emission for the Philippines and other APEC economies,” the energy undersecretary said.
Clean energy generates electricity from sustainable sources like wind, solar, and geothermal power with almost no pollution or global warming emissions. (APEC Communications Group)