INFORSE Asia

Link: INFORSE.ORG/ASIA

INFORSE South Asia and INFORSE East Asia and Pacific are two of the 7 regions of the International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE), which is a global network of NGOs formed at the Rio Global Forum in 1992.

INFORSE works for the implementation of sustainable energy solutions through the exchange of information, raising awareness, formulating and implementing strategies and lobbying in international forums. The network is a meeting place for NGOs working at grassroots level, as well as at national, regional and international levels. All member organizations are united in a common strategy for long-term sustainable development that phases out the use of nuclear and fossil energy.  INFORSE pushes to promote sustainable energy solutions (renewable energy and energy efficiency) that use decentralized approaches. All activities seek to protect the environment and achieve development by reducing poverty.

Structure: Member organizations and Regional Coordinators organize regional meetings and other INFORSE activities. Regional meetings are the basis of the network’s democratic structure. The Coordinators are working on regional action plans, securing regional INFORSE focal points and coordinating with other INFORSE regions. In countries with substantial INFORSE activities and/or membership, national focal points are elected.

Regional coordinators:
East Asia and Pacific: Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP), att. Tetsunari Iida, Eric Martinot, Japan

South Asia: Integrated Sustainable Energy and Ecological Development Association (INSEDA), att. Raymond Myles, Ashok Zutshi Sanjiv Nathan, Jagdeep Sharma, India

Activities in Asia:
– INFORSE Synergies Across Continents Global NGO Network Cooperation Project in East & West Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Local Solutions Proposed for Climate Action & Development and Policies to Promote & Scale-up Local Sustainable Energy Solutions in 2022-2023. See more here.
– NGO cooperation projects on “ecological village development” in South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) in 2015-2022.
– The NGO cooperation project “Evidence-based, low-carbon and pro-poor advocacy on sustainable ecovillage development” (EVD) brings together several INFORSE members from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as include cooperation with the CAN South Asia in 2015-2018.
– The NGO cooperation project “Promotion of pro-poor low-carbon strategies” brought together several INFORSE organizations and CAN organizations in 2014-2016.
– The Southern Voices for Climate Change Capacity Building Project involved several INFORSE members in South Asia in 2011-2014.
– The NGO Capacity Building Project for Sustainable Energy Solutions to Reduce Poverty in South Asia was the largest INFORSE activity in Asia and involved members from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in 2005-08. One of the greatest results is a Solutions Manual.
– Internet distance education on renewable energy technologies was developed by INFORSE-South Asia in cooperation with INFORSE Europe. The courses were taught between 2000 and 2010.

INFORSE Asia participates in INFORSE’s global activities:
INFORSE has consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC and the UNFCCC. Commentaries, workshops, statements and presentations are prepared for various ministerial or United Nations events and their parallel NGO forums, including:

  • Climate conferences (UNFCCC)
  • Monitoring of the Rio Conferences, the UN CSD Process and the SDGs.
    (HLPF2020 and HLPF 2021, Rio+20, CSD 14, CSD 15, CSD9 New York, WSSD and Civil Society Forum, Johannesburg, 2002)
  • Follow-up to the Johannesburg Conference (Bonn, 2004)
  • Meeting of European Environment Ministers in 1998
  • V. International Conference on Adult Education in 1997
  • World Summit on Social Development in 1995

Find more information on INFORSE-Asia website and our member database here and our contact database here.

If you want to support our sustainability work in Asia, you can make a difference here.