Carbon Forum Asia, Clean Energy Expo held in Bangkok

This year, China’s first carbon-trading pilot began, Kazakhstan initiated its emissions-trading programme, and South Korea’s carbon-market design process began to take shape. Alongside these, the Green Climate Fund’s selection of Songdo, Korea, as the host city will draw the attention of the global financial community to the region.

These steps reflect an important reality: An effective response to climate change combines sound market-based policy, technology and finance. Those three ingredients work together – when a clear policy stimulates companies to adopt new technology and access markets to finance it cost effectively. 

This year’s “Carbon Forum Asia” brings those three elements together as for the first time it is being held in conjunction with “Clean Energy Expo Asia”, in Bangkok from now until Friday.

“Once again we’ve assembled leaders from the region who are working on new carbon markets – and new financing strategies,” said Dirk Forrister, president and chief executive officer of IETA. “As a bonus, we are co-located for the first time with Clean Energy Expo Asia, offering you a window into the innovative technologies and clean energy strategies that will help bolster carbon markets.” 

Prasertsuk Chamornmarn, acting executive director of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation, said: “TGO has been actively involved in the development of a voluntary carbon market in Thailand. Later this year, TGO will be launching the Thailand Voluntary Emissions Reduction Programme, which will provide project developers of emissions-reduction projects with the opportunity to participate in the carbon market and gain returns from investing and developing low emission-projects. 

“TGO has also been a prominent entity in the development of a voluntary emissions-trading scheme in Thailand, which is expected to be launched next year. The introduction of a voluntary emissions-trading scheme will be an achievement that will mark significant progress in the establishment of a strong carbon market in Thailand.

“TGO believes that large-scale events such as Carbon Forum Asia immensely facilitate international cooperation in carbon-market development and climate financing, and hopes that the forum will further advance the carbon-market development agenda of introducing new market mechanisms, schemes and financing opportunities that will assist in addressing global environmental problems in a more effective way.” 

 

Linking opportunities in Asia to global investments

Carbon Forum Asia will showcase carbon-market business opportunities from developing countries in the region. This year the Asian Development Bank will invite experts and project developers from over 12 developing countries to contribute to the forum and showcase their projects, covering a range of sectors including renewable energy, cook stoves, transport, agriculture and waste.

They include the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, the Water Authority of Fiji, the Vietnam Low Carbon Agriculture Support Project, and CECEP Zhangbei Wind Power,

“Carbon Forum Asia is an excellent platform in the Asia-Pacific region to share knowledge and identify business opportunities in the evolving carbon market,” said Gil-Hong Kim, director of the sustainable infrastructure division of the ADB’s regional and sustainable development department. 

“ADB is proud to be a sponsor of Carbon Forum Asia from its inaugural event in 2006. In Carbon Forum Asia 2013, ADB will discuss with participants and stakeholders the linkage of domestic carbon markets, in addition to exploring carbon-market project opportunities.” 

The TGO (Public Organisation) returns with an official Thai pavilion to connect local project developers and governments with international participants at Carbon Forum Asia. The pavilion features companies such as Thai Biogas Energy Co, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Advance Carbon Securities Venture Co and Vichitbhan Palm Oil Co.

Japan is expected to announce a new climate target as part of its national energy strategy after the Fukushima disaster. The Overseas Environmental Cooperation Centre, a non-governmental organisation established with the support of the Japanese Environment Ministry, puts its highest interest on climate-change-related subjects. At Carbon Forum Asia, it is providing the latest information on joint crediting/ bilateral offset credit mechanism, the Japanese government’s initiative in new market mechanisms. 

The OECC returns with a Japan Pavilion this year, bringing together the Global Environment Centre Foundation and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies.

“The intense discussions due to take place over two days will keep participants up to date with the regional developments in carbon footprint reduction, to set the framework to help bring about a more sustainable future and to illustrate how this fits into the global agenda for climate change,” said Michael Dreyer, vice president for Asia-Pacific of Koelnmesse, an international trade fair and exhibition centre in Cologne, Germany. 

“Carbon Forum Asia is the ideal platform for the global players to get in tune with the Asian market, reinforced by the delegation of both regional and international attendees. 

“The co-location of Carbon Forum Asia with Clean Energy Expo Asia further strengthens the value of these discussions, by presenting a unique opportunity for greater collaboration and knowledge exchange between organisations and professional across the entire carbon and energy value chain.”