About the Clean Energy Ministerial
The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum that brings together ministers and stakeholders from major economies and other invited countries each year.
Its purpose is to facilitate public/private sector collaboration on policies and programs that accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies. Participating governments account for more than 80 per cent of global energy consumption and a similar percentage of the market for clean energy technologies.
Timeline
The concept for CEM meetings grew from the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) leaders' decision in July 2009 to launch the MEF Global Partnership to drive transformational low-carbon and climate-friendly technologies.
The first CEM was hosted by Dr Steven Chu, US Secretary of Energy, in Washington DC on 19–20 July 2010.
How is RET involved?
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) is the lead agency responsible for Australia's participation in the CEM and engagement in the clean energy initiatives.
CEM initiatives
At the first CEM meeting, 11 initiatives were launched with the overarching goal to improve energy efficiency worldwide through the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge, enhance clean energy supply, and expand clean energy access:
- Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS) Action Group
- Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Women's Initiative
- Electric Vehicles Initiative
- Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership
- International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN)
- Super-Efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative
- Solar and LED Energy Access Program
- Bioenergy Working Group
- Clean Energy Solutions Centre
- Sustainable Development of Hydropower Initiative
- Multilateral Solar and Wind Working Group
The CEM initiatives are run through a distributed leadership model, with different sets of countries co-leading each. Most initiatives involve working groups which meet throughout the year to advance the series of projects under each initiative.
Australia is currently a member of six initiatives, including the CCUS Action Group, Clean Energy Solutions Centre, SEAD Initiative, ISGAN, Multilateral Solar and Wind Working Group, and C3E Women's Initiative. Of these, Australia is the co-lead of the Clean Energy Solutions Centre with the United States, and the CCUS Action Group with the United Kingdom.
More information
For more information about the CEM, including the 11 initiatives, go to the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) website or email cleanenergyministerial@ret.gov.au.