Low carbon technologies

The first session will concentrate on discussion of the "Prospects for and barriers to the development and dissemination of low carbon technologies in the short, medium and long term", with particular attention to the financial architecture required to promote such technologies, bearing in mind the present world economic and financial crisis.

Together with the representatives of the private sector from the various countries meeting in Syracuse and those of the international organisations, the Environment Ministers—following the commitment by the G8 Toyako Summit in 2008 to promote clean energy technologies to meet the twin challenge of climate change and energy security—will be able to discuss the opportunities afforded by technological innovation to stimulate economic recovery.

Session I will open with a presentation by representatives of the IEA (International Energy Agency) and the World Bank of the results of the Forum on low carbon technologies held in Trieste on 3-5 April, which may offer input to the debate. Guidelines for Discussion have been drafted for Session I referring to the items discussed by the World Bank and the IEA at the Trieste Forum, to provide further stimuli for dialog between Ministers and the business world on the issue of low carbon technologies.