TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Asia and Europe are currently at the centre of the climate change debate, with Asia being a key player in the global energy sector, and Europe at the forefront of setting a global deal to reach ambitious climate and energy targets.

Recognising this trend, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Asia Centre organised a 2-day conference, Asia and Europe Crossing Paths on the Way to COP21 on 29-30 October 2015 in Paris, France. The conference explored energy and climate related issues that will be at the core of the COP21 UN Climate Change Conferences later this year.

This high-profile event in Paris brought together over 100 renowned experts from academia, science, business, politics and the media from both Asia and Europe, including representatives from the European Commission, the International Energy Agency, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

“We often hear that climate action is detrimental for economic growth, but actually green growth will have a much higher return in the long term. We should shift from short term quantity GDP to long term quality GDP,” said Mr Rae Kwon CHUNG, Principal Advisor on Climate Change at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who attended the event as one of the guest speakers.

“Energy sector must cut emissions, while powering economic growth, boosting energy & increasing energy access,” highlighted Ms Laura COZZI, Deputy Head of the Directorate of Global Energy Economics at the International Energy Agency (IAE), during her presentation on Energy and Climate Change and how climate pledges shift the energy sector.

Experts reached the conclusion that further and immediate action is required by all parties to limit the far-reaching effects of climate change.

This event was the final session of the conference series under the project ‘Energy Challenges and Climate Change’ building on ASEF’s past work on Sustainable Development and Environment.

The event was held at the Senate, Palais du Luxembourg, in cooperation with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PGB