The head of the Asian Development Bank is calling for governments in the region to take “radical steps” to increase energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy.

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said Wednesday that a failure to address the need for energy security could cost Asia its hard-won progress in reducing poverty.

Speaking in Manila, Kuroda said residents of Asia have more to lose from climate change than anyone else in the world, and that the fight will be “won or lost” by decisions made in the region.

He told delegates at the sixth Asia Clean Energy Forum the key to lowering energy intensity is ending fossil fuel subsidies, coupled with investments in renewable energy.

The ADB chief said continued reliance on fossil fuels will increase the threat of climate change, leading to more natural disasters and food and water shortages which will affect millions of Asia’s poor and vulnerable.

The ADB says the Asia-Pacific region’s energy needs are likely to double by 2030 because of strong economic growth and a rising population.

The bank says it is on target to meet its goal of investing $2 billion a year in clean energy projects by 2013.