3 April 2009: The World Bank’s “Energy Week 2009,” which convened from 31 March-2 April 2009, in Washington DC, US, focused on the theme “Energy, Development, and Climate Change.” During the week, energy and development policy-makers and practitioners analyzed several issues, including energy innovations for clean transport; securing a climate sensitive energy supply; integrating wind energy development; and scaling up energy efficiency for climate change mitigation.

In her opening address, World Bank Vice President Katherine Sierra highlighted the challenges of meeting development and climate change challenges in the context of the present economic crisis. She said that, if the world continues on today’s path, an inevitable rise in global carbon dioxide emissions “will cause unimaginable harm to all, with the earliest and most severe impact on the poorest countries that have had little to do with causing climate change.” She highlighted Lord Stern’s recommendation for strong investment in green energy, including for countries to spend about 20% of their stimulus packages on green measures. She also noted the recommendation of Achim Steiner, UN Environment Programme Executive Director, who called for a Global Green New Deal with investments of 1% of global GDP in five key sectors. [World Bank Energy Week 2009 website]