Part II

Read an excerpt from a keynote speech and answer the questions.

(Source: http://inter.oop.cmu.ac.th/ASEAN/asean2015template/asean2015/keynotespeech_drsurin (may2011).html retrieved 15/2/2014)

Keynote Speech by H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, at the 2011 Asia Public Policy Forum on Energy, Innovation and Sustainable Development

Ladies and Gentlemen,

ASEAN Cooperation in Energy and Food

Intensive partnership in bringing policies to action towards a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable ASEAN Energy Community, is fundamentally needed to meet the upward trend in energy demand while also preventing irreversible damage to environment. In this regard, the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2010-2015 was adopted by the ASEAN Energy Ministers in 2009 as an important guiding document that reflects the commitment of ASEAN towards this goal.

Under this Framework, a list of targets and activities was agreed to enhance energy security and sustainability for the region by giving due attention to health, safety and environment. The targets and activities were set forth through the four APAEC’s specific programme areas, namely: renewable energy; energy efficiency and conservation; clean coal technology; and civilian nuclear energy.

Having attained its 10% target to increase the installed Renewable-Energy-based (RE) capacities for power generation within the period 2005-2009, ASEAN have set strategic goals for RE, including the achievement of a collective target of 15% in the total power installed capacity by 2015. This is in recognition that RE is crucially needed to increase the diversity of energy supply and reduce the environmental impact of energy use in the region.

With regards to Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C), which is widely regarded as the most cost-effective way in addressing the energy challenges, especially for developing regions like ASEAN, a series of capacity building activities under the promotion on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (PROMEEC) Project have been conducted. ASEAN has also designed a work plan and training curriculum for the ASEAN Energy Manager Accreditation Scheme (AEMAS) as well as determined various measures to achieve the aspirational goal of reducing regional energy intensity of at least 8% by 2015 based on 2005 level. Although there is a clear target on energy efficiency and RE in the energy mix, ASEAN is thinking of placing a higher level of commitment and have agreed to undertake an assessment and review of ASEAN's current EE&C target with an aim to increase the target in the near future.

Coal being the fastest growing energy source of the region since 2005, ASEAN is seeking to promote cleaner coal use, technology and trade that could bring-in mutual benefits towards regional energy security. At the 28th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in 2010, ASEAN agreed to intensify cooperative partnership in the promotion and utilization of coal and cleaner coal technology while addressing environmental issues and facilitating intra-ASEAN coal-related issues, such as enhancing the public image of clean coal and exploring an ASEAN agreement on coal supply and trading for regional energy security.

With the objective to diversify energy resources and supply sources, ASEAN pursues all available and possible energy sources, including civilian nuclear power. Being a new programme area of APAEC 2010-2015, the 13th and 14th ASEAN Summits held in 2007 and 2008, have mandated the ASEAN Member States to explore nuclear as an alternative source of energy while stressing the need that this source should be sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly. Under the Terms of Reference of the Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-sector Network (NEC-SSN), adopted at the 28th AMEM in 2010, ASEAN is to forge a region-wide cooperation on the use of nuclear energy for power generation purposes through a broad exchange of information and assistance on safe and sustainable civilian nuclear power programmes. The 1st NEC-SSN Meeting was recently organized on 18 February 2011 in Singapore, which detailed the ASEAN activities in the coming years and its collaboration programme with international organisations, especially with the IAEA.

On the other hand, to address the long-term food and energy security in the region, an ASEAN Plus Three Comprehensive Strategy on Food Security and Bio-energy Development (APTCS-FSBD) is being developed. This multi-sectoral cooperation framework, under the guidance of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry and the Agriculture Ministers of the People’s Republic of Agriculture of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, aims to provide scope and joint pragmatic approaches in ensuring long-term food security and bio-energy development.

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