Bangkok--24 Apr--UN
64th Commission Session Takes Place in Bangkok 24 -30 April
With oil prices continue to break new records, government ministers and senior officials from the 62 members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will focus on energy security, and its impact on sustainable development, when they gather for the Commission’s annual session in Bangkok from 24 to 30 April.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Samak Sundaravej, and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Noeleen Heyzer, will open the Ministerial Segment at 0900am on 28 April at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC). The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, will send a message. The Foreign Minister of Thailand, Noppadon Pattama, will speak in the afternoon during policy dialogue.
Ms. Heyzer will also address the opening of the Senior Officials Segment at 0900am on 24April.
A study by ESCAP, Energy Security and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, will be taken up by a special Ministerial Roundtable in the morning of the 28th.
The issue will also be discussed by hundred of business leaders and representatives of civil society on Sunday 27th at a day-long Asia-Pacific Business Forum also taking place at UNCC.
Participants will include Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Sahas Banditkul; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Business Affairs of the Solomon Islands, Fred Fono; Deputy Vice-President of the Vice-Presidency for Strategic Planning and Control of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syed Mohammad Ghasem Hosseini; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-Hoon; and Deputy Minister of Energy of Myanmar, Brig-Gen Than Htay.
Also participating will be former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jennifer Shipley; Managing Director of Chevron Asia South, Joseph Geagea; Chairman of the Governing Council, Petroleum Federation of India, and Chairman of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Shri S. Behuria; Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ursula Schaefer-Preuss; and Director of the Third World Network, Martin Khor.
The study by ESCAP points out that energy consumption in Asia and the Pacific grew by 70% between 1992 and 2005. At the current rate of growth, the region will account for half of the total global demand by 2030. Yet, 1.7 billion people still relying on traditional biomass fuels and one billion people have no access to electricity. To enhance energy security and energy equity remains a major challenge to the Asia-Pacific region
The study highlights the need to develop a new approach to energy security
-- one that emphasizes improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy. Public-private partnerships are an important way to drum up investments in efficient and clean energy technologies. The outcome of the discussions at the Asia-Pacific Business Forum will be fed to the Ministerial roundtable.
There will also be a high-level panel on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and a side event on “Towards a supportive financial system for achieving MDGs” on Tuesday 29th. A progress report on MDGs in the region, A Future Within Reach 2008, jointed prepared by ESCAP, ADB and UNDP, will be launched during the Commission session.
The annual Commission session provide a unique forum for decision makers from all the countries in Asia and the Pacific to deliberate on some of the region’s most pressing issues and to discuss common approaches to address these issues.
More information on the Commission session is available at:
http://www.unescap.org/64/
Journalists are invited to cover the Commission session and the Asia-Pacific Business Forum at UNCC; and to a reception hosted at the venue by ESCAP 1730 — 1930 on Thursday 24th, and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand 1730 — 1900 on Monday 28th.
Journalists who are not accredited by the UN Information Services (UNIS) should register at UNCC reception counter. A valid press card issued by the Thai authorities is required.
A Media Centre equipped with Internet and wi-fi connections, desktops, printers, fax and a photocopier will be operational on the ground floor of UNCC during the Commission session.
For more information, please contact UN Information Services:
Thawadi Pachariyankun
+66-2-288-1861
[email protected]
Ari Gaitanis
+66-2-288-1862
[email protected]
Brian Thomson
Tel: +66-2-288-1869
[email protected]