Mérida, Yucatán — Energy ministers and other high-level delegates from 22 countries and the European Commission are here through today for the sixth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM6) to help advance clean energy technologies and promote low-carbon economies.
The meeting kicked off Wednesday with a call for more investment in renewable energy and support from the private sector.
Hosted by Mexico’s Secretary of Energy Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, the event includes global energy leaders such as the United States Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, European Commissioner for Climate and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete, and China Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang. CEM6 engages the world’s most important clean energy countries and highlight the role of low-carbon energy technology solutions and policies to help countries deliver on their national clean energy goals.
“It’s up to us to make renewable energy synonymous with equity,” Coldwell said as the conference opened.
Clean energy is a powerful force for the construction of a “less asymmetrical,” “more balanced” world, Coldwell said.
Clean energy also represents profitable business opportunities, particularly in Mexico, said Coldwell, noting that the country’s government introduced energy reforms in 2014 that have opened the state-owned energy sector industry to private investment.
The director of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Adnan Amin, said the world is poised for an energy revolution, and private enterprises need to play a bigger role.
Amin also highlighted the development of “intelligent electricity networks,” or smart grids, that will help energy producers and consumers use energy in a more efficient, sustainable, profitable and safe way.
The forum will outline strategies for an upcoming United Nations conference on climate change in Paris from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
CEM6 is running alongside the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas. The co-location allows ministers attending each event to strengthen networks and learn from one another.
Sources: Press release, Xinhua
