CONTINUING its turnaround from the Bush years, the United States has pledged nearly $600 million in funding assistance from October this year to support clean-energy projects in Asia and in other parts of the world; and itself plans to spend $150 billion to propel development of renewable fuels and other new energy sources.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said, “The US understands that making clean energy a reality is essential to climate change and enhancing energy security. We also want to promote the adoption of clean-energy technology, help nations adapt to climate change and encourage sustainable land and water use.”

She was speaking at the Asia Clean Energy and Climate Week 2009 at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila last week, where she also said green energy is creating great new opportunities for the US and Asian economies as politicians realize that the best way to curb greenhouse-gas emissions without harming economic growth is through renewable sources.

Attended by more than 600 energy professionals from more than 50 countries, the forum focused on looking for clean-energy initiatives that can help Philippine and Asian businesses weather the global economic downturn and strengthen the long-term energy security in the region.

Kenney said that US President Barack Obama has made the transformation of the country into a leader in clean energy innovation a key goal of his administration.

“President Obama has made clean energy a hallmark and a centerpiece of his plans as well as addressing the global climate change and a speedy global economic recovery. Looking beyond our borders to the international arena, we understand, and our president has clearly stated, that clean energy is a priority and a reality in addressing climate change and enhancing energy security.”

She recalled that just last week, a US Senate committee approved a comprehensive energy package requiring utilities to generate 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind power by 2021.

Kenney said that in Asia, Washington through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) already has environmental programs under way in more than a half a dozen countries that create clean energy, mitigate climate change, save energy, conserve biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of land and water resources.

In China, Indonesia and the Philippines, the US is working with new partners to support efforts of private financing advisory networks, she added. In its first nine months, this network has identified energy projects in Asia that hold the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 13 million tonnes.

They are also working toward the Philippine goal of full rural electrification using clean power sources. “We are committed to helping support efforts here to develop clean energy sources, to encourage private sector investment, and to build upon the efforts made by the Philippine Congress in their passage of the Renewable Energy Act and the Biofuels Act.”

Seventy percent of Asia’s energy needs are met with fossil fuels, a primary source of greenhouse gases. Asia now accounts for one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The US accounts for 25 percent.

In Asia, the ADB noted that nearly 1 billion people still have no access to electricity and over 1.8 billion continue to rely on biomass and traditional stoves for cooking and heating.

In this connection, the ADB launched last week the “Energy for All Partnership” that aims to provide access to modern energy to an additional 100 million people in the Asia Pacific region by 2015.

Ursula Schaefer-Preuss, ADB vice president, said the partnership will emphasize low-cost, environment-friendly technologies and innovative financing mechanisms that will enable the poorest household to gain access to energy.

“Providing access to clean and affordable modern energy is not only vital to helping the region meet the Millennium Development Goals, but is essential in the battle against global climate change,” said Preuss.

However, environment activists seemed unsatisfied with the ADB’s environment enhancement efforts. Protests led by the Greenpeace were staged outside the Asia Clean Energy and Climate Week 2009 calling on the bank to “stop assistance strategies which fuel global warming and to spend more money on promoting clean energy technologies and act to introduce stimuli for developing climate resilient and low carbon economies.”

Greenpeace believes that the only way the ADB can become relevant as a development bank in the fight against climate change is by completely phasing out its support for coal and other climate unfriendly technologies.

“The ADB’s role must be to help developing countries redirect investments from fossil fuel to renewables, avoiding the climate destructive path of developed countries,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Amalie Obusan.