These initiatives will cut energy waste; help deploy smart grid, electric vehicle, and carbon capture technologies; support renewable energy markets; expand access to clean energy resources and jobs; and support women pursuing careers in clean energy.

The new programs offer partners concrete, technical actions to promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. It is expected that the initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants world-wide in the next 20 years.

"The Clean Energy Ministerial has brought together leaders from around the world to take unprecedented actions to deploy clean energy technologies - from energy efficiency to renewable energy to smart grids to carbon capture. These steps will promote economic growth, create jobs and cut greenhouse gas emissions," said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Ministers from 24 governments participated in the two-day Ministerial held in Washington, D.C. The governments are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

These countries represent more than 80 percent of global energy consumption and a similar percentage of the global market for clean energy technologies.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the United Arab Emirates offered to host the second Clean Energy Ministerial in spring 2011.