This report summarises the discussions held and suggestions made at the Regional Meeting on Energy Use in Mountain Areas organized by ICIMOD from 16-18 April 1997. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the findings of the studies commissioned by ICIMOD in four countries, namely, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, and to identify future priorities FOR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. Two focal areas were covered in the discussions: i) emerging issues in energy use; and ii) energy policies and programmes. With a broadened understanding of these issues, future priorities for energy development in the mountains were discussed and several suggestions were made with regard to both policies and studies to improve understanding. The meeting addressed issues related to database and planning, energy development and its sectoral linkages, energy resources and technological options, and subsidies and incentives for renewable energy technologies. The meeting was useful in promoting understanding of emerging trends in energy use in mountain areas. These trends are: prevailing unsustainability of the energy supply and demand in the mountains; inharmonious energy transitions, on the one hand, towards non-monetised low quality energy forms and, on the other, towards non-renewable fossil fuels; wrong choice of energy resources and technologies due to lack of a quality and quantity perspective in energy programme design; ignorance of the biophysical aspects of the mountains; and the methodological dilemma of having to internalize environmental costs. On the energy policy and programme front, the meeting identified the following issues: accommodation of multiple interest groups in decision-making; lack of technology and institutional policies; lack of sectoral linkages at the policy level; lack of vision with respect to technology choice; and insufficient focus on research and development of new energy systems. The meeting suggested that the role of every stakeholder involved be recognized and that more emphasis be given to ensure the active participation of women in the design and implementation of energy programmes. The meeting identified important areas for ICIMOD's future activities related to the energy sector. These are related to understanding and comprehending energy use variability in those economic sectors that have comparative advantages for alleviating poverty in mountain areas. Due recognition needs to be given to possible impacts on environmental conditions in fragile mountain areas and human health in opting for a particular energy mix. In this respect, factors that promote renewable energy technologies (RETs) adaptation need to be understood and sustainable energy policies and programmes need to bedeveloped.The meeting emphasized that continued efforts are needed in programme advocacy, information exchange, sharing of knowledge, and increased capacities in the field of mountain energy systems.