The 6th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development of Asia – Pacific region took place in the capital of Kazahstan – Astana, between 27-2 October.

One significant side event – The International Energy Efficiency Forum was held between 28-30 September 2010 in parallel to the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development for Asia and the Pacific. It was organized jointly by the Government of Kazakhstan, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Forum combined an assessment of energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) policy and legislative frameworks with the analysis of international best practices. The status and potential of EE and RE in various economic sectors (industry, fuel and energy, housing and communal services, public buildings, construction, transport, etc.) were also reviewed. Emphasis was given to energy efficiency in the residential and municipal sector, as one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions with large potential for improvements in energy efficiency. The main focus of the Forum was on ways and means of financing EE and RE investments.

The plenary sessions featured presentations of high-level officials from Governments of the countries of the UNECE and ESCAP regions, representatives of United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, financial institutions, business sector and energy efficiency experts.

BEEF was presented by its Executive Director, Mr.Dimitar Dukov. He took part in “Financing Energy efficiency and Renewable energy-Intenational best practices plenary session of His presentataion was on the topic: Accessible financing instruments for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to utilize energy efficiency potential.