JEDDAH: Energy ministers from across the world evaluated the progress on clean energy goals, pledged additional commitments and outlined the roadmap for the third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) that will be held in London in 2012. At the conclusion of the second Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM2) in Abu Dhabi Thursday, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of Masdar, said: "The participating ministers have pledged to focus on giving adequate attention to the recommendations on private-public partnerships, to reduce expensive regulatory infrastructure and to take the initiatives forward, demonstrating that CEM2 is a forum for result-oriented discussions." "The UAE is devoted to contribute and nourish the CEM initiatives," he added, noting that "Masdar has a dedicated department to reduce dependency on CO2. We also have focused initiatives for enhancing women's role in science and technology, as we strongly believe women are vital to disseminate clean energy for the future." The UAE has placed renewable energy and climate change high on its agenda, demonstrated through a variety of initiatives including the inception of the Masdar initiative, the Abu Dhabi green building code (Estidama), the World Future Energy Summit and the Zayed Future Energy Prize. During the second CEM, ministers discussed 11 specific initiatives, with a focus on energy efficiency, clean energy supply and mobilizing smart public finance. Government officials collaborated with the private sector and other stakeholders from around the world in roundtables to engage in dialogue on clean energy issues, including regulatory strategies for utility-scale energy efficiency, innovative technologies for energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy access, as well as sustainable cities. Steven Chu, US Energy Secretary, said: "Countries that have gathered here together contribute to 80 percent of the greenhouse emissions. But they are coming together to work constructively to reduce the impact of this through various initiatives. That will be the way to lead the economies of the world toward prosperity. Energy efficiency and clean energy are imperative as the world is looking to build 500 new power plants in the coming years." "This conference gives even more optimism to work together and achieve the goals before we meet again for the next conference in London," added Chu. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) will be held in London in 2012. The UK's Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said: "There can be no solution to climate change and energy security globally without carbon capture and storage. "Deployment of the technology is tantalizingly close, but it won't happen at commercial scale without concerted efforts by governments around the world to address legal, financial and technical barriers. "Our work with Australia to galvanize action and the commitments we've secured from key countries today are a step forward in this challenge. The UK will host the next Clean Energy Ministerial in London next spring and will be pressing hard for substantial progress by then." In cooperation with the US, the UAE led the dialogue among 21 governments – including ministers, business leaders and nongovernmental organizations – to progress initiatives that will accelerate the world's transition to clean energy. Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative, one of 11 initiatives as part of the CEM 2 dialogue, was hosted by the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology on behalf of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
