April 2011: The Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) released the first issue of the ECPA Clearinghouse Newsletter. The newsletter marks the first anniversary of the 2010 Energy and Climate Ministerial of the Americas, held under the auspices of the US Department of Energy, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Organization of American States (OAS), which established the ECPA.

The first part of the newsletter provides an overview of the ECPA and its activities. The ECPA is a flexible and voluntary mechanism through which governments may lead multi-country or bilateral initiatives to promote clean energy, advance energy security, fight energy poverty, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Initiatives focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner and more efficient use of fossil fuels, energy infrastructure, energy poverty, sustainable forests and land use, and adaptation. Under the ECPA, the lead and/or participating governments and public and private sector partners contribute resources to implement the initiatives.

The newsletter also reports on upcoming and recent events, including the Regional Critical Energy and Climate Issues Dialogue and ECPA Meeting to be held 7-8 April 2011 in Panama City, Panama; and the recent meeting of the presidents of Brazil, Chile and the United States during which the presidents underscored the ECPA’s importance.

Furthermore, the newsletter: announces the upcoming launch of the new ECPA website, which will serve as platform for dissemination of outputs and outcomes of partnership initiatives implemented by participating countries; and provides links to further information, including an ECPA fact sheet and a study by the World Bank on Caribbean electricity supply options. [Publication: ECPA Clearinghouse Newsletter][ECPA Website]