12/5/2006
Sustainable development: Commissioner Dimas at UN to discuss sustainable energy future

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is representing the European Commission at the ministerial part of the 14th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in New York from 10 to 12 May 2006. The meeting  examinse progress in sustainable energy, climate change, air pollution and industrial development issues. Commissioner Dimas advocatse energy policies that improve access to energy services for the world’s poor while maximising energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy globally, thus increasing the protection of the environment. Commissioner Dimas is also announcinge the launch of the EU Energy Facility, which will make available € 220 million to projects improving access to energy, in particular renewable energy, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The CSD process provides us with a unique opportunity to put the world on a sustainable energy path. What we need is an integrated approach with a view to improve energy efficiency, promote technological innovation, expand markets for renewable energy sources and foster cleaner fossil fuels for transportation. All this will increase the access to energy in developing countries while protecting the environment.

Access to energy and energy services is crucial for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, especially on eradicating poverty. Today, over two billion people in developing countries live without access to energy and to modern energy services, and they are relying mainly on traditional biomass. This year, € 220 million from the new EU Energy Facility in support of the EU Energy Initiative will be made available to projects improving access to energy in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

At the same time, there is an urgent need to reduce energy-related environmental and health problems, in particular those stemming from climate change and air pollution. Renewable energy sources will therefore be high on the EU’s agenda at CSD14. They play an important role in the fight against climate change, and they harbour potential for economic growth, especially for developing countries and regions. To make the most of their potential, a stable, long-term policy framework is needed. CSD offers us the chance to build a strong international framework for renewables to help achieve a real global breakthrough, and we should not miss this chance.

The Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC), chaired by the Commission and Morocco, has since its launch in 2002 successfully fostered international co-operation on renewables. The Commission is currently preparing an innovative public/private funding mechanism to bridge financing gaps for renewable energy business developers and SMEs, especially in developing countries.

CSD14 is also looking at the sustainability of industrial development. As a large energy-consuming sector, industry is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns will be crucial. At the same time, industrial development is key to attaining economic and social objectives.

One of the issues is how to increase investment in sustainable industrial development that creates jobs and generates income, including through small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Background

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) has a mandate to review progress in implementing the outcomes of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The CSD works in two-year policy cycles, with a review session followed by a policy session. The 1 – 12 May 2006 meeting, CSD14, constitutes a global review of implementation of the Johannesburg commitments in the field of energy, air pollution, climate change and industrial development, aiming at showcasing best practises as well as identifying the most pressing challenges that the global community needs to tackle. In 2007, the policy session, CSD15, will decide upon concrete actions to overcome these obstacles.

CSD14 is chaired by Aleksi Aleksishvili, Minister of Finance of Georgia. The meeting will be attended by ministers from around 100 countries as well as representatives of international financial institutions, business and NGOs.
Further information:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/wssd/csd_14_en.html