APEC to draft energy efficiency roadmap

Member-countries of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will draft an energy efficiency roadmap in October. The expert group on energy efficiency, which is meeting this week in Cebu City, Philippines, will define the key issues that need to be addressed, according to Donato Marcos, undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Energy.

“For this 46th meeting, we have identified priority areas for discussion as stated in the agenda, namely energy efficiency and best practices in buildings; harmonization of energy efficiency test methods for refrigerators in the APEC region; harmonization of standards and enhancing technical capacity in measurement and verification of energy savings of projects and the like; vehicle fuel efficiency labeling and re-information schemes; energy efficiencies, policies and programs; and energy intensity and renewable energy goals, among other things,” Marcos said.

Senior APEC officials also will discuss necessary measures to improve the quality of infrastructure across the region, as they highlight its role in fueling economic growth.

“APEC recognizes the importance of quality infrastructure in the economic growth of the Asia-Pacific, not only in physically connecting the region but also in ensuring the efficient movement of goods, services and people between and within borders,” the organization said in a statement.

“Quality infrastructure directly supports efficient transportation and telecommunications services, air and sea ports, customs procedures, energy distribution, farm-to-fork logistics, among other things,” it added.

Infrastructure development and financing was identified as one of the four pillars of the Cebu Action Plan’s Financial Roadmap, which will be launched by APEC finance ministers next week.