11 February 2013: During a preparatory meeting for the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM4), which is to be held in April in Delhi, India, ministers from participating countries discussed progress on CEM’s 13 clean energy initiatives, finalized the CEM4 agenda, and received a preview of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “Clean Energy Progress Report.”

The preparatory meeting was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on 30-31 January 2013.

The review of CEM’s 13 clean energy initiatives demonstrated gaps between current efforts and long-term goals. Chung Yang-Ho, Director General for Energy Policy in the Ministry of Knowledge Economy in the Republic of Korea, noted that considering the “challenge of achieving sustainable economic growth against three major problems: depletion of limited resources, soaring energy demand, and climate change,” CEM countries should “maintain our stance of addressing the issue by expanding clean energy supply and improving energy efficiency.”

Participants also received a preview of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “Clean Energy Progress Report,” which will be presented at CEM4. The report highlights that, while in many cases renewable energy sources have become competitive due to cost reductions, in other areas, such as clean vehicles and carbon capture and storage (CCS), current actions are not sufficient to reach stated goals. [CEM Press Release]