At Asia Clean Energy Forum 2025, a Focus on Improving People’s Lives
At ACEF 2025, CLASP spotlighted appliance efficiency as a powerful driver of a just energy transition.
At this year’s Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF), the conversations went beyond megawatts, decarbonization targets, and grid upgrades to a shared recognition of the importance of centering people.
For CLASP, ACEF 2025 was a chance to share what we’ve learned as well as listen, connect, and challenge ourselves and others to think more expansively about what an energy-inclusive future looks like.
Across panels and workshops, the fundamental question remained the same: How do we make clean energy truly work for people, especially those at the margins?
CLASP at Asia Clean Energy Forum 2025 in Manila, Philippines
Building markets while driving equity
Bishal Thapa, CLASP’s chief of strategy and impacts, shared new research on appliance subsidy design. His message was clear: Financial support for low-income households should be seen not as a cost, but an investment in dignity and access. “We can build markets and drive equity at the same time,” he noted. “It’s not a trade-off.”
Meanwhile, in a session on technology innovation, our chief of programs, Jenny Corry, emphasized the power of community-driven solutions. Whether it’s a solar-powered irrigation pump in the countryside or a clean cooking appliance in a low-income urban area, the solutions that stick are the ones that respond to real lives, not just theoretical models.
CLASP
CLASP
Bringing energy efficiency to manufacturing
On the industrial front, CLASP’s technical manager in China, Hu Bo, spoke about the importance of bringing energy efficiency to the center of manufacturing. In Asian countries where factories are multiplying rapidly, embedding efficiency today can shape the trajectory of development for decades to come, he noted.
Discussing the digital energy transition, Prasun Pandey, a manager in CLASP’s India office, asked, “Who benefits from smart meters and demand-response technologies? Are we building for inclusion or for convenience?” In two well-attended sessions, he explained how digital tools can either widen or close energy access gaps, making intentional policy design critical.
Putting people at the heart of solutions
Beyond the panel discussions, the spirit of collaboration was apparent in conversations held throughout the conference venue, the Asian Development Bank’s Manila headquarters. Policymakers, practitioners, and CLASP partners spoke candidly about what’s working in the energy transition, what’s not, and what’s still missing. There was a quiet urgency to these discussions: With climate deadlines looming, the solutions we choose today will define our shared future.
For CLASP, this year’s ACEF reinforced our belief that energy efficiency is about more than saving watts and lowering emissions. It’s about reducing inequality, improving daily life, and building systems that are resilient, affordable, and fair. From efficient fans and refrigerators to smarter grids and greener factories, every piece of the puzzle matters.
As we return from Manila, we’re energized by the momentum, ready for the challenges, and more committed than ever to ensuring that people are at the heart of improving appliance efficiency and access.
