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Energy Working Group |
Accounting for around 60% of world energy demand, the APEC region is a net energy importer. The Asia-Pacific's demand for energy is also predicted to increase, and according to International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts, global energy demand will grow 45% between 2006 and 2030 (World Energy Outlook 2008). These factors make energy cooperation an important agenda item for APEC.
The Energy Working Group (EWG), launched in 1990, seeks to maximise the energy sector's contribution to the region's economic and social well-being, while mitigating the environmental effects of energy supply and use.
The EWG is assisted in its work by four Expert Groups (Expert Group on Clean Fossil Energy, Expert Group on Efficiency & Conservation, Expert Group on Energy Data & Analysis, Expert Group on New & Renewable Energy Technologies) and a Task Force on Biofuels.
The EWG has long recognised that business can make an important contribution to the development and implementation of its work program. It was one of the first APEC fora to establish its own public and private sector dialogue mechanism - the EWG Business Network (EBN). The EBN advises the EWG on energy policy issues from an industry perspective and facilitates regular dialogues between energy policy-makers and business sector representatives.
Achievements
APEC energy cooperation is conducted under the framework of the Energy Security Initiative (ESI), which was first put forward by the group in 2000 to prepare the region for energy supply disruptions and their impact on the APEC economic development. The ESI includes short-term measures such as the Monthly Oil Data Initiative, maritime security, real-time emergency information sharing, and oil supply emergency response. It also includes long-term responses to energy investment, natural gas trade, nuclear power, energy efficiency, renewable energy, hydrogen, methane hydrates, and clean fossil energy. The Joint Oil Data Initiative (JODI) is a collaborative oil information collection program undertaken by APEC, OPEC, the IEA, the International Energy Forum and the UN Environment Program. The 11th Report on the Implementation of ESI was presented and approved at the 37th Meeting of the EWG, held in Santiago, Chile in April 2009.
The APEC Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development was endorsed in Sydney, Australia on 9 September 2007. In the Declaration APEC Leaders emphasised the importance of improving energy efficiency, and undertook to work towards an APEC-wide aspirational goal of a reduction in energy intensity of at least 25 percent by 2030 (with 2005 as the base year). They also decided to establish an Asia-Pacific Network for Energy Technology (APNet) to strengthen collaboration on energy research in the region, particularly in areas such as clean fossil energy and renewable energy sources.
At the 8th APEC Energy Ministers Meeting held in 2007, discussions focused on support for the development and deployment of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies. Ministers determined that addressing the challenges of energy security and sustainable development should be based on well-functioning markets. Energy Ministers directed officials to improve energy efficiency by:
- setting individual goals and action plans;
- collaborating with the IEA to develop energy efficiency indicators;
- sharing information on energy efficiency policies and measures;
- encouraging APEC economies to contribute to and utilise the APEC Energy Standards Information System (ESIS); and
- establishing a Peer Review Mechanism on Energy Efficiency
Current Activities
A draft Energy Trade and Investment Action Plan (ETIAP) addressing existing barriers to energy trade and investment in the APEC region will be submitted to APEC Energy Ministers for approval, after the EWG consults with the APEC Investment Expert Group and the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI). An Energy Trade and Investment Task Force has been established under the EWG to facilitate relevant cooperation in EWG.
The EWG has endorsed the APEC Peer Review Mechanism on Energy Efficiency (PREE). The objectives of the PREE are: to promote information sharing among APEC members on energy efficiency performance and on policies and measures for improving energy efficiency; and, to explore how energy efficiency goals on an overall and/or sectoral basis and action plans could be effectively formulated and implemented in APEC economies. A team of energy efficiency experts from APEC member economies has now completed the first PREE reports on New Zealand and Chile, and these were presented at the EWG's meeting in April 2009. Viet Nam announced that it would undergo the PREE in June 2009 and invited member economies to nominate experts to the review team.
Japan's proposal to establish an APEC Support Fund Sub-Fund on Energy Efficiency was also endorsed at the April meeting. Japan expects to contribute US$1 million to the new sub-fund.
Noting that cooperation and partnership are essential to addressing energy security and environmental challenges that extend beyond the sphere of any single economy or the APEC economies as a group, the EWG is now further strengthening collaboration with other international energy fora on a broad range of energy issues, including maritime energy transport security, emergency preparedness, energy efficiency, clean energy technology, etc. Accordingly, the IEA, the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and the Energy Charter Secretariat have been granted guest status in the EWG.
Energy Working Group (EWG) - Key Contacts
Lead Shepherd
Dr Phyllis Genther Yoshida
Deputy Assistant Secretary
International Energy Cooperation
U.S. Department of Energy
Tel: (1-202) 586 7954
Fax: (1-202) 586 3047
E-mail: phyllis.yoshida@hq.doe.gov
APEC Secretariat
Mr Sun Tao
Director (Program)
E-mail: st@apec.org