US to host first ever clean energy ministerial meeting

The United States would host the first-ever Clean Energy Ministerial meet next week bringing together leaders from 20 countries, including India, to launch or join new initiatives that will accelerate the world's transition to clean energy technologies.

Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia would represent India at the two-day meeting in Washington beginning July 19.

In a statement, the US Department of Energy said government delegations will meet on July 19.

On Tuesday, ministers, CEOs and other clean energy leaders will discuss their experiences and announce joint initiatives in a Public Forum.

The meeting grows out of a global partnership launched by the Major Economies Forum, it said, adding the countries attending represent 70 per cent of global emissions, 80 per cent of global gross domestic product and 80 per cent of the global market for clean energy technologies.

Besides India and the US, other participants are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, China, South Korea, Russian, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for groups of governments and other participants to announce actions to accelerate deployment of clean energy technologies.

The agenda of the Clean Energy Ministerial will focus on concrete steps forward to promote clean energy.