Current operational activities include the following projects:

• Programme for Asian Cooperation on Energy and Environment (PACE-E)

  During the period 1993 to 1997, the ESCAP secretariat executed the UNDP funded Programme for Asian Cooperation on Energy and Environment (PACE-E), together with the Asian and Pacific Development Centre (APDC). The overall objective concerns the integration of environmental considerations into energy sector development in decision making. The PACE-E programme implementation has been guided by an Energy-Environment Advisory Group (EEAG) and implemented through regional networks of focal groups, nominated by participating governments of Asia.

  In 1997, under PACE-E, two sub-regional workshops on Environment and Social Impact Assessment, and Public Participation (EIA/SIA/PP) were organized together with the E7 Network. Papers presented at these workshops are being prepared for publication. A pilot project is currently being implemented by the UNDP office in Lao People's Democratic Republic, where the Science Technology and Environment Organization (STENO) is being assisted in preparing guidelines on public involvement for natural resources development projects.

  ESCAP and UNDP (Bangkok) are organizing a regional workshop based on activities which have been implemented in Lao PDR and from the two sub-regional workshops. The workshop is scheduled to be held in late May, 1998.

  Under Rural Energy-Environment Development (REED) of PACE-E, phase one was the regional Workshop, organized in Beijing in 1994. Under phase two (1997) of this project, the experiences of China and India in approaches and methodologies were transferred to two other developing countries in the region, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. National studies following the Chinese/Indian approaches and methodologies were conducted in the latter two countries within the framework established by ESCAP. The findings of the national studies were discussed at national orientation workshops in the two countries. These have now been documented in the form of guidelines for wider dissemination.

  The secretariat has also received financial assistance from the Republic of Korea to organize a regional workshop to conclude the PACE-E programme element Energy Environment Planning. The workshop is scheduled to be held in July 1998.

• Enhancement of Quality Control Management for Efficient Use of Energy and Resources in Industry

  Under these current projects, Energy Resources Section provides technical training and/or on-site energy auditing for identifying energy and resource saving potentials in energy intensive industries.

• Sustainable Energy Consumption through Consumer Information and Awareness

  Sustainable energy consumption requires informed consumers taking environmentally sound decisions. For the promotion of environmental awareness and consumer information, ESCAP Secretariat supported seven national training events in selected participating countries, with project funding provided by the Government of Japan.

  An Asia-Pacific NGO Symposium on Effective Consumer Information for Sustainable Energy Use is proposed to be organized in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in late 1998.

• Studies on Co-generation in Indonesia and Bangladesh

  The Government of Japan has provided funding to conduct national studies to identify the potential for co-generation in Bangladesh and Indonesia, as well as the barriers to introducing co-generation and measures to remove them.