(KPL) Ministry of Energy and Mines and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Laos Office have joined hands on Integrated Energy Towards Sustainable Carbon Neutral Society Master Plan in Laos.

A signing ceremony for a Record of Discussions between the Ministry of Energy and Mines and JICA Laos Office was held in Vientiane last week.

Lao PDR’s long-term energy transition master plan towards creating a carbon-neutral society by 2050 is a fundamental element of a new 3-years technical cooperation project supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The “Integrated Energy Master Plan towards Sustainable Carbon Neutral Society” project will be implemented from 2023 to 2025.

The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines was represented by the Department of Energy Policy Planning and the Department of Energy Efficiency and Promotion. These governmental institutions are pursuing development goals and measures for taking concerted actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, respective national efforts to achieve a low-carbon, decarbonized society have been committed to and formalized.

All parties to the Paris Agreement are required to make utmost efforts to limit the increase in global average temperature to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

An increasing number of developing countries including Lao PDR are declaring their intention to pursue carbon neutrality targets by 2050.

At the same time, addressing the changing climate can also be the driving force of dynamic growth and progress in the socio-economy toward the second half of this century and beyond.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) continues to support energy sector cooperation including multiple technical cooperation projects in Laos and with other partners.

JICA imparts technical knowledge and skills through capacity building for the Ministry and Électricité du Laos (EDL) to maintain a stable power supply to empower this transition, JICA Laos Office Chief Representative Mr. NAGASE Toshio told the ceremony.

“The looming challenge of global heating and climate change calls for the collective effort of all humanity to resolve,” Mr Nagase said.

KPL