The energy ministers' meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) was kicked off on Sunday.

The two-day meeting is expected to focus on climate change, energy security and energy aid for Africa.

Participants included energy ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Britain, Russia, the United States and the European Union, as well as ministers from emerging economies in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

With the theme of "Beyond the Crisis: Towards a New World Energy Order," the G8 energy meeting is aimed at formulating strategies to combat climate change, promoting investment in energy security and sustainable development, as well as mapping out plans to reduce energy poverty, organizers said on the website.

The meeting will give special attention to the energy shortage in Africa, where social instability, uncontrolled migration and epidemics are partly attributed to the lack of energy resources.

The conclusions of the meeting will be presented for ratification in the G8 summit slated for July in L'Aquila, Italy.