27 October 2009: The UN General Assembly Second Committee (Economic and Financial) held an interactive dialogue with Heads of the UN Regional Commissions on 27 October 2009, on “regional perspectives on the economic impacts of climate change.”

Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), reported that African Environment Ministers together with the African Development Bank (AfDB) were setting up an African Climate Policy Centre to improve climate-related data, and shape policy responses and action under a post-2012 regime.
Anhar Hegazi, Director of the Sustainable Development and Productivity Division of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), pointed to the 2003 Abu Dhabi Declaration on the Environment and Energy, the 2007 Arab Declaration on Climate Change and the draft Arab Framework Action Plan on Climate Change.
K.V. Ramani, Senior Adviser of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), illustrated regional strategies for a transition to renewable energy including the promotion of an interconnected trans-Asian infrastructure for energy resources and technology trade and investment, as well as the creation of regional reserves and stockpiles.
Jan Kubis, the Executive Secretary for the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), noted the large potential for energy efficiency, low-carbon energy supply as well as technological and behavioral change in Central Asia, Europe and North America.
Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), underscored the region’s potential to improve energy efficiency and diversify energy sources at a relatively low cost. [UN Press Release]