UN warns of massive energy bill for Asia
Updated
The United Nations has warned the region faces an energy infrastructure bill of nine trillion U-S dollars by 2030 if it doesn't introduce energy saving and efficiency measures as quickly as possible.
Presenter: Ron Corben
Speakers: Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Thai Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej.
CORBEN: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific opened Monday to the strains of Verdi's Va pensiero or more popularly Song for Liberty.
At the centre of debate are the pressing issues of the impact of rising energy costs, escalating food prices, the wider impact on the general communities across the region. The Commission session is also looking how to bridge regional cooperation and alleviate the impact on the poor and lower income groups.
UN ESCAP Executive Secretary, Noeleen Heyzer, in her opening address, warned of emerging crises unless the issues facing the poor were not addressed, as lower income groups faced a heavier burden from rising energy costs.
HEYZER: Today we face an imminent crisis of rapidly rising inequalities in the region. Income disparities have led, among others, to serious social and environmental inequities. An increasing proportion of the poor in the region live in areas where the environment is under stress. In many countries, the poorest people may use less energy but actually pay proportionately more than the rich for energy services. These high levels of inequality are diminishing growth prospects and eroding social cohesion in the region.
CORBEN: Thai Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, told the delegates from the more than 50 countries and regions attending, that greater attention needed to be paid to the environment to ensure sustainable growth.
SAMAK: We need to pay attention to the environmental sustainability and use natural resources wisely, while maintaining sound economic growth. We should work to safeguard the region's great wealth of biodiversity that is being threatened, and include this in our national development plans.
CORBEN: But Mr. Samak, who in his speech also pointed to support for nuclear power, said there was need to consider reform in energy policy across the region.
SAMAK: Our region urgently and seriously needs to consider energy management reform, promotion of cooperation in the energy sector, efficient energy usage, clean energy promotion, and development of alternative and renewable energy.
CORBEN: The opening of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific coincided with the release of a 240 page report by the Commission on energy security and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.
The report noted the high levels of economic growth, massive investments in infrastructure, construction and rising population had led to a doubling in use of primary energy since 1980.
Ms Heyzer, at an earlier press conference, said the challenge of development for the region lay in the face of rising energy costs.
HEYZER: The challenge that we face in bringing forth inclusive and sustainable development in the region consists of; the recent hike in oil prices, the whole issue of climate change is very much linked with energy and consumption and the use of fossil fuel. We in this region, despite having economic power houses still house 641 million of the world's poorest people.
