We
– grassroots movements, non-government organizations and civil society networks
from Asian countries – express grave concern over the Energy Policy of the ADB,
as well as the Strategy 2030 draft.
It
has been almost 10 years since the Energy Policy was adopted. Since then the
Paris Agreement has entered into force, signed by 195 countries of which 176
are now State Parties. It is a legally binding instrument that identifies
fossil fuels as a key driver of climate change, and provides a framework for
global collective action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and
shift to low-carbon economies.
ADB
itself cites global consensus arising around platforms such as the Sustainable
Development Goals Agenda and the Paris climate deal as important changes and
opportunities it must consider, hence the drafting of Strategy 2030. Yet, it
appears no measure is being undertaken to bring the 2009 Energy Policy in line
with these developments.
ADB’s
Energy Policy continues to allow for financing of new coal power plants and other
coal-related schemes such as “coal bed methane extraction and use”, “coal
gasification”, “coal scrubbers”, “waste coal utilization” and “coal
transportation over the sea”. It gives no clear position on putting an end to
coal financing in the future. It also fails to consider the developments in renewable
energy which have made it a more economical and financially feasible
alternative to fossil fuels.
Setting
restrictions in funding coal projects is no longer adequate at a time of
intensifying climate change and increasingly catastrophic impacts especially on
developing countries. They are also pointless since the Policy also promotes
actions that worsen climate change. Further burning of fossil fuels contributes
to exacerbating the climate crisis and multiplying the difficulties of
vulnerable populations. Poverty deepens with the destruction and loss of lives,
homes, natural resources and livelihoods brought about by climate change.
The
2030 Strategy, if it is to be seen as “align[ing] with the Sustainable
Development Goals, the Paris agreement on climate change and other global
commitments”, must support a swift and just transition to clean energy systems
for the people and communities of Asia, and put an end to fossil fuels and
other harmful energy as soon as possible. This means harmonizing ADB’s sectoral
policies as well, such as in energy, with the spirit and thrusts of the Paris
climate pact.
We
call on ADB to channel funding into sustainably energy technology and renewable
energy projects rather than false solutions to the climate crisis, which
include Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and other “clean coal” schemes that
inflict further harm on people and the environment. The level of ADB support
for renewable energy remains grossly inadequate in proportion to the financing
that goes into continuing support for fossil fuel-based energy projects.
We
urge ADB to bring its Energy Policy and Strategy 2030 in line with the growing
global demand to stop financing new coal-fired power plants and coal mines, and
move in the direction of phasing out fossil fuel use, especially coal, while
effectively promoting the transition to cleaner and renewable energy sources.
Signatories:
2. NGO Forum on ADB
3. Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific
(FOE APAC)
5. Focus on the Global South
6.
Migrant Forum
in Asia (MFA)
7. SEAFISH for Justice
8. South Asian Alliance for Povery
Eradication (SAAPE)
9. Network for Transformative Social
Protection in Asia (NTSP)
10. ALTSEAN-Burma
11.
350.org Pilipinas
12. Adivasi Mulvasi Astitva Raksha manch – India
13.
AKSI! Indonesia
14. All
India Women Hawker Federation, India
15. All Nepal Peasant's Federation (ANPFa) - Nepal
16.
All Nepal Womens Association
-Nepal
17. Asiochi
Independence Force, Myanmar
18. AWDO(Naphe),
Myanmar
19. Ayeyarwaddy Transparency and Accountability Association
(ATAA), Myanmar
20. Ayearwady
West Development Organization (AWDO), Myanmar
21. Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Jote -Bangladesh
22. Bangladesh
Krishok Federation
23. Bangladesh Poribrsh Andolon ( BAPA), Bangladesh
24.
Bayay Sibuyanon Inc., Philippines
25.
Budakattu Krishikara Sangha,
India
26.
Bukluran ng Mangagawang Pilipino
(BMP –Solidarity of Filipino Workers), Philippines
27. Campaign for Good
Governance-SUPRO! -Bangladesh
28. Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) ,
Philippines
29. Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Sri Lanka
30.
Centre for Human Rights and
Development, Mongolia
31.
CHANGE, Vietnam
32. Citizen
Action for Transparency (CafT), Myanmar
33. Civil
Society Women’s Organization (CSWO Menghalaya), India
34.
Climate Watch Thailand
35.
Coastal Livelihood and
Environmental Action Network, Bangladesh
36. Combat Climate Change Network, India
37. Community Empowerment and Social Justice Foundation (CEmSoJ),
Nepal
38. CORD, India
39.
Dawei Development Association
(DDA)-Myanmar
40. Dawei
District Farmer Union, Myanmar
41. Debt Watch – Indonesia
42.
DIGNIDAD Coalition, Philippines
43.
Environics Trust, India
44. EquityBD, Bangladesh
45. Farmers
and Land Users' Union( Myeik), Myanmar
46. Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Philippines
47.
Forests and Farmers Foundation,
Thailand
48.
Forum Against Disastrous Project
in Konkan, India
49.
Friends of the Earth Japan
50.
GEFONT –Nepal
51.
Gitib -Philippines
52. Global
Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Philippines
53. Green
Network Mergui Archipelago (Kyun Su), Myanmar
54.
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan – India
55.
Human Rights Alliance – Nepal
56. Human
Right Defenders and Promoters(Palaw), Myanmar
57. Indian
Social Action Forum (INSAF), India
58. Indian
Social Action Forum (INSAF Gujarat), India
59. Indian
Social Action Forum (INSAF Kerala), India
60. International
Financial Institutions Watch (IFI Watch), Myanmar
61. Jagaran Nepal
62. JATAM
Indonesia
63. Kalayaan!
Pilipinas
64. Karavali
Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Vedike, India
65. Karen
Coal Coalition (KCC), Myanmar
66.
Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN),
Myanmar
67.
Karen River Watch (KRW), Myanmar
68. Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation – India
69.
Khu Po Kapaw (Karen), Myanmar
70. Koalisyong ng Pabahay ng Piipinas (KPP), Philipines
71. KRUHA - Peoples Right to Water Coaliton, Indonesia
72.
Land Acquisition & Citizen Rights, Mongolia
73.
Land Resources Group, Myanmar
74.
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center --Kasama sa
Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines
75.
Moms and Dads Aganst Smog, Mongolia
76.
Monitoring
Sustainability of Globalisation - Malaysi
77.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA
Ayeyarwaddy), Myanmar
78.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA
Karen State), Myanmar
79.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency & Accountability (MATA
Karenni State), Myanmar
80.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability MATA
Magway), Myanmar
81.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA
Mandalay Working Group), Myanmar
82.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency & Accountability (MATA
Rakhine State), Myanmar
83.
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency & Accountability (MATA Shan State), Myanmar
84.
Myanmar - China Pipeline Watch Committee (MCPWC), Myanmar
85.
Myanmar People Alliance
(Shan State), Myanmar
86.
Myat Wonn Thit Knowledge Society, Myanmar
87.
Myitmakha Watch, Myanmar
88.
Nadi Gati Morcha - India
89.
National Adivasi Alliance, India
90.
National Committee for Saving the Sundarbans( NCSS),
Bangladesh
91.
National Hawker Federation, India
92.
NGO Forum on Cambodia
93.
ORIANG, Philippines
94.
Oyu Tolgoi Watch, Mongolia
95.
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum,
Pakistan
96.
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee,
Pakistan
97.
Paung Ku, Myanmar
98.
Peace & Open Society Kyaukse Township, Myanmar
99.
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Philippines
100.Political and Civil Engagement Group
– Bago, Myanmar
101.Public Finance Public Accountability Collective (PFPAC),
India
102.Public Network(Bago), Myanmar
103.Pwinphyu Development Organization (PDO), Myanmar
104.Right & Peace ( Kalay), Myanmar
105.River Basin Friends – India
106.Rivers without Boundaries Coalition,
Mongolia
107.Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), Nepal
108.Sagaing MATA Working Group, Myanmar
109.Salween Watch (SW), Myanmar
110.SANLAKAS, Philippines
111.Save The Salween Network (SSN),
Myanmar
112.Sawit Watch, Indonesia
113.Saytodetayar Development
Organization (SDO), Myanmar
114.Shwechinthae Social Service Group(Shwebo), Myanmar
115.Solidaritas Perempuan (Women) – Indonesia
116.Southern Youth, Myanmar
117.Takapaw, Myanmar
118.TANKS (Kachin State), Myanmar
119.Tavoyan Women’s Union, Myanmar
120.Thayet
Chaung Farmers Union, Myanmar
121.The Climate Reality Project Philippines
122.Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA),Vietnam
123.WALHI, Indonesia
124.
WomanHealth Philippines
125.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines
126.
Yangon MATA,Myanmar
127.
Yomachi (Saytodetaya), Myanmar
128.
Youth Network Tanintharyi, Myanmar
129.
Zurgaan Buudal NGO, Mongolia
Individuals
130.Prof. Anuradha Chenoy (Retired),
India
131.Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, India
International Endorsers & Supporters
132.
11.11.11 Asia
133.
Christian Aid
134.
350.org
135.
Bank Information Center Europe
136.
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), USA
137.
Friends of the Earth (FOE) US
138.
Gender Action
139.
Market Forces, Australia
140. Oil Change International
141.
Community Policing Partners for Justice, Security and
Democratic Reforms (COMPPART), Nigeria
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