1 February 2012: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) co-hosted the Asia launch of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, which advocates for universal access to energy, a doubling of the rate of improvement in global energy efficiency, and a doubling of the share of renewable energy.

The event, held in New Delhi, India, brought together organizations such as The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), UN-Energy, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the UN Foundation to raise awareness on modern access to energy for human development. It took place before the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), which will review the progress made since the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit and set the agenda for future sustainable development strategies.

ADB has invested approximately $2.8 billion in access to energy projects since the launch of its Energy for All Initiative in 2008 and is working on mobilizing funds from the private sector through public-private partnerships. It will continue to play an important role through the Energy for All and Clean Energy programs, and the ADB-led Energy for All Partnership. The International Year of Sustainable Energy for All is part of the UN’s global initiative for ensuring universal access to modern energy by 2030. [ADB News]