Member nations of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), which was launched in July 2010, collectively represent 80 per cent of the world's energy consumption and over 90 per cent of the world's clean energy investment.

The CEM currently has 11 agreed initiatives to progress its work. Australia shares the leadership of two initiatives – the Clean Energy Solutions Centre and the Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Action Group (CCUS).

Attending the meeting, Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson said that progress had been made on both initiatives.

“We now have international agreement from key Clean Energy Ministerial governments on specific proposals developed by the CCUS Action Group under the joint leadership of Australia and the United Kingdom.

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“With over 75 per cent of our electricity generation currently coming from coal-fired power, breakthroughs in carbon capture and storage technology are of particular importance to Australia,” Mr Ferguson said.

“At the CEM, we also launched the Clean Energy Solutions Centre portal, an important knowledge sharing tool. Australia also signed on to the International Smart Grid Action Network Implementing Agreement for international co-operation on smart grids,” Mr Ferguson said.

This week also saw the final meeting of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate in Bangkok. Australia worked on more than 50 projects under this initiative.