UN-Energy meets in Vienna to discuss energy issues

"Energy is central to all main global issues" stated UN-Energy Chair, Kandeh K. Yumkella at the opening of UN-Energy retreat in mid-February.

The two-day event was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna and was attended by many UN agencies and private sector representatives who are former members of the Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC).

The AGECC has recommended two bold but achievable targets for 2030 -- universal access to modern energy sources and a 40 per cent decrease in energy intensity. UN-Energy retreat served as a platform to move forward with the implementation of these goals.

Experts agreed that the role of energy is at the heart of economic development and affects entire economic activities and growth. In this light, the impact of the AGECC report was underlined while pointing out the challenge to reconcile the short time needs to provide energy with the long term vision.

Yumkella reiterated his continued support and said that under his leadership "significant progress has been achieved in moving forward the political process on energy access, culminating in the General Assembly Resolution designating 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All".

Furthermore, participants discussed the lessons learned from the first 10 years of MDG Summit, stating that the discussion should go beyond merely promoting the provision of energy access and should encompass using energy as a catalyst to promote MDG progress.

Multifaceted issues associated with energy were shared among members. IAEA presented its energy planning strategy in Africa. United Nations Foundations (UNF) and the World Bank discussed ways to implement AGECC goals to reduce energy intensity through increased energy efficiency. UNDESA briefed the participants on the Rio 2012 conference happening next year where energy will be a main topic and the occasion for UN agencies to work together on sustainable development.

FAO focused on-going activities with regards to bioenergy and food security while UNCDF revealed the upcoming launch of its global programme – CleanStart – which aims to enable 2.5 million poor people to access energy solutions through microfinance.

Public-private partnership proposals were also brought to light and concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UNIDO and Statoil.

UN-Energy also launched its new website and knowledge network which enables a common "UN voice" on energy issues, currently spread across 20 UN Agencies with energy-related projects and programmes. The network now features a video on energy issues where UN-Energy and AGECC members express their thoughts on the issue.

There is a role for each agency and UN-Energy hopes to increase collective engagement between the UN and other key external stakeholders.