In support of its poverty alleviation mandate, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to increasing access to clean and affordable energy for people throughout the Asia and Pacific region, particularly the poor. ADB's Energy Policy, approved in 1995, emphasizes the acceleration of the widespread application of clean/cleaner/ renewable energy and energy efficiency in its Developing Member Countries (DMCs). This focus was strengthened in ADB's current draft Energy Strategy which has increasing energy access to the poor as one of the three pillars for ADB's overall support in the energy sector.