Since the official announcement and initial High Level group meeting of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative this September, a leading technical group has also been selected and named. The 12 person group whose members background span areas such as: academia, international institutions and banking, is using its expertise by making technical recommendations to the High Level group in a timeline leading to the 2012 General Assembly. With support from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) a series of meetings were held on 18-20 November in Vienna. The immediate task of the High Level group is putting together an action agenda to shift the world toward sustainable energy for all by 2030. Next on the itinerary is a principals meeting in Abu Dhabi in mid January. The initiative has been designed to form an action agenda the support of which is undertaken by four taskforces. Taskforce One (TF1) is concentrating its efforts on country-level strategies to enable universal energy access. To complement the actions of TF1, Taskforce Two is concentrating its efforts on catalyzing the clean energy revolution. Both of these taskforces have held a round of preliminary meetings during the week of December 12th in Brussels.

Vision Statement

Energy is essential for all human activities and its availability is critical to economic and social development. The lack of access to reliable and affordable energy is a contributing factor to poverty of individuals, communities, nations and regions. Expanding access to affordable, reliable and clean energy services requires careful assessment of all the available energy supply and demand options, selecting the suitable energy mixes and designing strategies on energy supply-demand that are consistent with national sustainable development objectives. Such expertise is lacking in most African countries. The IAEA assists Member States to build national capacity and expertise in energy system analysis and planning, so that countries are able to chart out their own national energy strategies.

At the core of IAEA's capacity building in energy planning are the computer-based analytical (mathematical) tools to conduct quantified analyses that provide necessary information for formulation of energy strategies, plans and policies. The Agency transfers these tools to interested Member States, provides training in their use and assists the local professionals in conducting national energy planning studies. Technical support for capacity building is provided by the Planning and Economic Studies Section (PESS) of the IAEA.

IAEA PESS Analytical Tools

The Technical Cooperation (TC) programme of the IAEA is the main mechanism to deliver assistance to Member States. It covers a wide range of development areas, like health, food and agriculture, water resources, environment, energy planning and nuclear safety and security. Member States receive assistance though national, regional and interregional projects. Necessary technical skills, knowledge and technologies to support sustainable development in the counterpart country are transferred through training courses, expert missions, fellowships, scientific visits, and equipment disbursement.

The African Regional Cooperative Agreement (AFRA) is an intergovernmental agreement established in 1990 by 34 African countries to maximize the use of the available infrastructure and expertise in Africa. AFRA assists countries to move toward regional self sufficiency. The IAEA supports the AFRA objectives and provides technical assistance through regional TC-Projects. One of the priority areas in the AFRA programme has been Energy. For the last several years, the IAEA has been implementing regional projects on capacity building for energy analysis and planning in Africa. A recent review by AFRA showed that, as a result of IAEA's efforts, energy planning expertise in several AFRA member states has been significantly strengthened.

Training in Tanzania

More recently, the focus has been placed on regional linkages with respect to planning and strategizing energy options. For example, in 2011 the IAEA has organized training courses on models and tools for analysis of regional electricity power pools for the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the South African Power Pool (SAPP). These trainings aimed at supporting development of local capabilities and skills for conducting comparative assessment of various supply and trade options for meeting electricity demand and export aspirations in a regional rather than only a national context, meeting the goals of regional integration, taking into account accessibility and affordability of energy, security of supply, environmental protection and exploring economies of scale of local power projects and interconnections between separate national power systems.

Support to African member states will continue during 2012/2013, through a newly approved regional TC project titled- Planning for Sustainable Energy Development.

IAEA Planning and Economic Studies Section

As per the agreement between the secretariat of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the secretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) signed in 2004, the UNECE supports the review of the OSCE's implementation of economic and environmental commitments.

A review in the field of energy efficiency has been presented during the 19th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum in Prague on 14-16 September 2011. The final version of the report based on feedback from the forum was delivered during the 20th Session of the UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy in Geneva on 16-18 November 2011.

The report deals with energy intensity trends and developments in the OSCE area, policies and strategies on energy efficiency in the OSCE region, energy efficiency contribution to energy security and climate change mitigation. To identify trends, the 56 OSCE participating States are grouped into four clusters: North America, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA).

Overall primary energy intensity of the OSCE area has improved by 24% during the period 1999-2008. Primary energy intensities vary significantly across clusters. EECCA countries have an energy intensity about three times higher than that of Western European countries and twice as high as that of North America, which in turn is about 50% higher than that of Western Europe.

Primary energy intensities in 2008 (Btu per 2005 U.S. Dollars PPP)
Source: US Energy Information Administration

Energy efficiency is non-regret strategy to simultaneously addressing a variety of policy objectives, including security of supply, climate change, competitiveness, balance of payments, reduced investment need and environmental protection. The potential for cost-effective energy savings in most OSCE participating States is vast, particularly in countries in transition. Yet, despite all these benefits, that potential remains largely untapped. Additionally, monitoring and evaluation is still in its infancy even in most advanced countries.

For mainstreaming the benefits of energy efficiency, it is essential to raise awareness and skills by enhanced information transfer and dissemination employing multilingual platforms and web-based technologies. This is further supported by the organization of meetings and seminars to diffuse knowledge and expertise among policymakers, energy practitioners, the banking sector and local communities.

Report Link

Humanity stands at a crossroads. Some signs point in the right direction – for example, strong economic performance has contributed to steep reductions in poverty in a number of developing countries. Improved child health and education are other positive signs. Yet, other signs point in the wrong direction. A recent report on the world's oceans found that accelerated environmental changes are causing much more serious damage than previously thought. And global greenhouse gas emissions have increased at an accelerating rate in the past ten years.

Even more worryingly, scientists tell us that we might be close to tipping points in the climate and various ecological systems. Clearly, we, as an international community must accelerate our actions! We must advance faster on the path to sustainable development. Sure, we can continue on our current unsustainable development path. But, we know that, if we do so, one planet will not be enough to provide everyone on this planet with the necessary resources for well-being.

Alternatively, we can choose the sustainable path, one that represents a convergence of two of humanity's noblest aspirations and most important responsibilities. What are they? To provide universal human development and human dignity, and to safeguard our planet for all generations to come. Sustainable development is not optional! It is the only path that allows all of humanity to share a decent life on this, one planet. The 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) gives our generation the opportunity to choose this path.

We know that the three pillars of sustainable development – social, economic and environmental – are closely interdependent. We cannot continue to wreak havoc on the environment and the earth's ecosystems, because it will eventually make it impossible to sustain social and economic development. We cannot fail. Not only for ethical reasons, but because it would rob humanity of the means to sustain ecosystems; indeed, the health of our planet. The planet is not in good health at the moment. I mentioned the case of oceans. But there are other warning signs. We see food, oil and other commodity prices at historic highs.

The crises we face are interlinked. Food and energy prices move together more closely than ever, partly because of the fossil fuel dependence of agriculture, partly because the alternative fuels can compete for land with food production. Furthermore, our dependence on fossil fuels worsens climate change, which in turn threatens food production in some of the most densely populated and poorest places on earth. How can we tackle these inter-linked crises? Cooperation at the global level is essential. And that is the reason why Rio+20 is so critically important at this moment in history. Some have called Rio+20 the Conference for the Future. The UN Secretary-General recently called it one of the most important meetings in the history of the United Nations.

Sha Zukang

The General Assembly resolution calling for Rio+20 asks us to consider both the progress we have made and the remaining gaps in implementing commitments on sustainable development. We have embarked on a thorough analysis and review of progress and gaps.

In the face of the multiple crises facing us, the challenge in coming years will be to sustain forward momentum on the poverty and social development agenda. Even developed countries are facing setbacks. Let's face it. Averages mean little to those living in extreme poverty. A family trapped in poverty in one country can take little consolation from knowing that rates of extreme poverty have fallen steeply in some other countries. We cannot be satisfied until extreme poverty has become history.

We have been asked to consider new and emerging challenges. The first of two themes of the Conference chosen by the General Assembly is: "green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication". Can we define a credible alternative growth model and development path, one based on respect for and proper valuation of nature's wealth? How can we ensure that such a path is an inclusive one, benefiting the poor, providing decent work to the unemployed?

The second theme is the "institutional framework for sustainable development". In other words, governance. Rio+20 offers an opportunity to initiate long-overdue reforms. International institutions must function well. Otherwise, problems that affect us all will not get solved.

In addition to the two themes, Member States have highlighted a number of challenges for priority attention. They include:

• green jobs and social inclusion
• energy access, including from renewable sources, as well as efficiency and sustainability
• food security and sustainable agriculture
• sound water management
• sustainable cities
• management of the oceans
• improved resilience and disaster preparedness

Climate change cuts across all of these areas, as well as being a high priority in its own right. Sustainable consumption and production is another cross-cutting issue which affects all sectors of an economy. Progress towards this would be an important achievement.

Another important priority of particular concern to developing countries are the "means of implementation." Economic transformation and structural change towards green economies and sustainable development can involve near-term costs as well as long-term benefits. To be successful in shifting towards green, inclusive growth, developing countries will need support in the areas of technology transfer, financing and capacity building.

A complete transformation of the global energy system is needed in the coming decades to provide sustainable energy for all, to satisfy rapid growth in energy demand, particularly in developing countries, and to diminish the negative impacts of climate change.

The availability of affordable and reliable energy services is essential for alleviating poverty, improving human welfare, raising living standards and ultimately for achieving sustainable development. Without sustainable energy services, there is no way to provide health, education, transport, telecommunications, and clean water and sanitation. In fact, inadequate energy services are an important constraint to progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Global impacts of climate change, limited natural resources, rapid increases in energy demand, and biodiversity loss demand a greater reliance on sustainable energy. Accessibility and affordability of renewable and clean energy technologies are key to ensuring sustainable energy for all. Sustainable energy stands at the center of global efforts to induce a paradigm shift towards green economies, poverty eradication and ultimately sustainable development. Sizeable investments are being made by some countries to propel innovation, development and commercialization of renewable and clean energy technologies.

Nevertheless, much more cooperation and action is needed to increase substantially the contribution of these technologies to the global energy system. A coordinated global energy strategy is necessary to support countries, especially the poorest developing countries. Efforts should concentrate on solutions for rural areas most affected by the use of traditional biomass and by the lack of electricity. International support is necessary to help remove the financial, technological, infrastructural and institutional barriers to creating the enabling environments.

UN-Energy, with all its member organizations, is playing a pivotal role and has been instrumental in defining three major goals to achieve sustainable energy for all. The goals, to be achieved by 2030, include: universal access to modern energy services, doubling overall global energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy. The resolution by the General Assembly declaring 2012 as the "International Year of Sustainable Energy for All" will help spur new initiatives for the promotion of energy access, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy technologies.

Sustainable Energy for All represents a major priority area for Rio+20. Rio+20 presents an opportunity to secure strong, high-level international support for ending energy poverty within a generation while promoting significant gains in energy efficiency and effective use of new and renewable sources of energy.