Regional study advance sustainable energy agenda

New UN energy portal and regional study advance sustainable energy agenda in Asia-Pacific

Bangkok (ESCAP News) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) launched an innovative new online portal
today that will provide unprecedented access to information on the energy
policies of countries in Asia and the Pacific, and advance the sustainable
energy agenda in the region.

The Asia Pacific Energy Portal, http://www.asiapacificenergy.org/, offers
member States powerful tools, including highly interactive data
visualizations that enable rapid trends identification as well as policy
tracking and search. The unique combination of data and policy information
in one application will help improve analysis of the energy situation,
policies and their development impact.

Alongside the portal, ESCAP also launched the first annual Regional Trends
Report on Energy for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific. The
Report provides an additional platform for member States to share their
experiences through case studies regarding the energy sector and its future
development.

Launching the report and the portal on the sidelines of the 71st Commission
session in Bangkok this week, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, United Nations
Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP explained that the
report and the portal are part of the three pillars of the Asia Pacific
Energy Forum (APEF) Implementation Support Mechanism set up by ESCAP in
2013. The third pillar is an annual Policy Dialogue, which met for the
first time in 2014.

“The portal will continue to evolve to further expand the knowledge base
supporting both the regional and global agendas such as the Sustainable
Energy for All initiative and the sustainable development goals,” said Dr.
Akhtar. “Future development will include incorporation of more data and the
creation of energy resource and infrastructure maps. The portal could also
be linked in the future with the regional data repository on Sustainable
Energy for All in the Pacific.”

Dr. Akhtar emphasized that APEF and its outcome documents demonstrate the
commitment of ESCAP member States to cooperate on a common energy agenda
that seeks a cleaner, more efficient, equitable, and secure energy future.
“ESCAP is committed to support member State cooperation on a common energy
agenda for shared prosperity, social equity and sustainability,” she added.

ENDS

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