The 37^th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) was held on 04 September 2019 in Bangkok.  Prime Minister His Excellency General Prayut Chan-ocha presided over the opening ceremony of the 37^th AMEM and Associated Meeting and ASEAN Energy Business Forum under the concept of “Advancing Energy Transition Through Partnership and Innovation”, collaborate in developing ASEAN energy innovation in the era of energy transition into a sustainable energy era At Crystal A Room, The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok.

H.E. Sontirat Sontijirawong, Minister for Energy of Thailand, chaired the Meeting. H.E. Dang Hoang An, Vice Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam was the Vice Chair, discussed various progress and directives on energy cooperation in the region.

In its Joint Ministerial Statement, the Ministers welcomed the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT), the first energy cooperation project in collaboration with the Norwegian Government under the Norwegian-ASEAN Regional Integration Programme (NARIP), which aims to support ASEAN in improving the coherence between the ASEAN energy and climate policies and contribute to more climate-friendly development of the energy sector.

About ACCEPT:

ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) is a 34-month project funded by the Norwegian Government, under the Norwegian-ASEAN Regional Integration Programme (NARIP), with a total fund of USD 1,657,060; a joint collaboration project between the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

The project aims to improve the coherence between the ASEAN energy and climate policies, contribute to more climate-friendly development of the energy sector. Studies will be carried out to analyse the existing energy and climate policies, provide recommendations and assist the ASEAN member states in shaping policies, which reflect the synergies between (i) energy policy and energy-related climate policy and (ii) policies at the national and regional levels. The project will entail intensive involvement from key ASEAN stakeholders, and will in the long-term help enhance modelling, analytical and regional policy planning capacities within ASEAN.

Therefore, the project will support the preparation of two crucial documents to ASEAN energy cooperation: (i) The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 Phase 2: 2021-2025 and (ii) the 6^th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO). The APAEC is the sectoral work plan for achieving energy cooperation goals under the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2016-2025, while the AEO complements the APAEC by providing an analysis of energy trends and challenges faced by the region.

Furthermore, ACCEPT will publish thematic papers to provide policy analysis and guidance for authorities at the national and regional levels. In addition to this, the project will also promote the integration of energy and climate through the public engagement to increase awareness on the importance of energy-climate nexus. Whereby the Norwegian experience would be a benchmark for sustainable development in energy and energy-related climate change policy.

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is implementing the project, in collaboration with Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

Further information, please access https://accept.aseanenergy.org/ and follow http://twitter.com/asean_energyCC.

Contact: [email protected].