CFA 2013 Post Show report.pdf

Event Overview
Now in its eighth year, the Carbon Forum Asia Trade Fair and Conference, organized by Koelnmesse
and the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), came to a close on September 25th, 2013,
after two days of intensive discussions and networking. Co-located with Clean Energy Expo Asia and
Energy Efficiency Asia, the three events ran across the week from September 24th to 27th, 2013, at the
Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand.
Asia is emerging as a strong leader in carbon markets, climate innovation and green finance. This year,
China’s first carbon trading pilot began, Kazakhstan initiated its own national emissions trading
program – and Korea’s carbon market design process began to take shape. Alongside these, the Green
Climate Fund’s selection of Songdo, Korea as the host city has drawn the attention of the global
financial community to the region.
These steps reflect an important reality: an effective response to climate change combines sound
market-based policy, technology and finance. Those three ingredients work together – when a clear
policy stimulates companies to adopt new technology and access markets to finance it cost effectively.
This year’s Carbon Forum Asia brings those three elements together as part of a powerful agenda.
“This year’s Forum offered rich discussions about new markets emerging and the global policy
architecture of the future,” said Dirk Forrister, President and Chief Executive Officer, International
Emissions Trading Association. “We moved the Asian policy agenda forward and helped businesses
gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as the global
community addresses climate change.”
For the first time, Carbon Forum Asia was co-located with Clean Energy Expo Asia and Energy
Efficiency Asia, further strengthening the value of the discussions carried out during the event, by
presenting a unique opportunity for greater collaboration and knowledge exchange between
organizations and professionals, across the entire carbon and energy value chain.
“I believe these events are extremely useful for the business society because energy and climate are
two sides of the same coin. I was able to exchange views and discuss both issues together here and
construct good business network. My outcome, perhaps participants may agree, is that a combination
of market, energy and policy is needed. Now is the time of Game Change. This is an ideal place to
meet energy people and climate people,” said Takashi Hongo, Senior Fellow, Mitsui Global Strategic
Studies Institute, Japan
Carbon Forum Asia successfully attracted 42 exhibitors and 550 carbon, clean energy and energy
efficiency industry experts from 40 countries. Held from September 24th to 25th, 2013, the event is
organized in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and hosted by the Thailand Greenhouse
Gas Management Organization (Public Organization).

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