UN Secretary-General Announces Significant Commitments to Action in support of Achieving Sustainable Energy for All

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Jun 21, 2012, 02:06 ET

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that more than one hundred commitments and actions have been already mobilized in support of his Sustainable Energy for All initiative, demonstrating powerful early momentum from governments, private sector companies and civil society organizations to achieve Sustainable Energy for All by 2030.

"Achieving sustainable energy for all is not only possible, but necessary. It is the golden thread that connects development, social inclusion and environmental protection," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "This initiative is already mobilizing significant action from all sectors of society. Working together, we can provide solutions that drive economic growth, expand equity and reduce the risks of climate change."

The Sustainable Energy for All initiative brings together governments, businesses and civil society groups in an unprecedented effort to transform the world's energy systems by 2030. The Secretary-General has set three complementary objectives for the initiative, all to be achieved by 2030: ensure universal access to modern energy services; double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Since its launch in September 2011, Sustainable Energy for All has achieved the following:

More than 50 Governments from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Small Islands Developing States have engaged with the initiative and are developing energy plans and programmes. The majority are from developing countries that have initiated or completed energy sector assessments and gap analyses, thus laying the groundwork to scale up action in priority areas, undertake strategic reforms where needed, and attract new investments and financial support.
Businesses and investors have committed over US $50 billion to achieve the initiative's three objectives. Tens of billions of dollars have been committed by other key stakeholders – governments, multilateral development banks, international and civil society organizations – to catalyze action in support of the initiative.
More than a billion people will benefit from Sustainable Energy for All's public and private sector commitments. Most beneficiaries in developing countries will gain improved access to energy through grid extension and off-grid solutions, as well as scaled-up renewable energy sources, increased investment, and improved energy policies.
Hundreds of actions and commitments are underway in support of Sustainable Energy for All, supported by businesses, donors, entrepreneurs, organizations, artists, and individual volunteers.

Additionally, the Government of Brazil has demonstrated outstanding host country leadership by committing to invest further US $4.3 billion to achieve universal energy access in Brazil by 2014. As a global leader in sustainable energy, Brazil will invest an additional US $235 billion over ten years in renewable energy, mainly in hydropower and biofuels but also including biomass and wind power, and will produce a total energy savings of 9 percent in 2030 from the electrical and transportation sectors. The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) will continue to support through its existing credit lines the production of sustainable energy in others countries, including by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Development Bank. ELETROBRAS will cooperate internationally with other power companies to develop competitive renewable sources of electricity and associated transmission systems.

"Sustainable Energy for All provides a powerful model for the future. The UN is bringing all key stakeholders to the table to work in common cause for the common good. This initiative shows the power of partnership and ability of the United Nations to spearhead transformational change," said the Secretary-General.

The early success of this initiative stems from its ability to convene key stakeholders and catalyze specific commitments around a "Global Action Agenda," which serves as a roadmap for achieving Sustainable Energy for All. The Action Agenda has identified high impact opportunities that can guide the work of stakeholders across all sectors of the economy.

Below is a partial list to date of commitments to action made in support of Sustainable Energy for All:

Governments and Country Actions:

Ghana, one of the first countries to partner with the initiative, has developed a national energy action plan to support capacity-development and innovative financing mechanisms. Countries initiating or completing similar assessments include Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uruguay and Vietnam.
20 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have agreed to work towards universal access to energy, switching to renewable energy, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. For example, the Government of Barbados will increase its use of renewable energy to 29 percent of all electricity consumption by 2029.
The European Union announced the initiative "Energising Development" that will provide access to sustainable energy services to 500 million people by 2030 and create a Technical Assistance facility supported by approximately US $63 million over the next two years.
Norway announced a new commitment of approximately US $140 million over 5 years to scale up access to sustainable energy in Ethiopia's rural areas, to replace kerosene lamps with solar alternatives in Kenya, and to support Liberia's development of a strategic energy and climate plan, among other ongoing initiatives.
The U.S. Government announced its strong support for the Sustainable Energy for All Global Action Agenda and plans to provide US $2 billion in grants, loans and loan guarantees for policy and regulatory development, public-private energy technology partnerships, and loans and guarantees to leverage private investment in clean energy technology.

"My government has committed to Sustainable Energy for All because of the unique platform it provides for catalyzing actions that will provide us with greater economic opportunity, energy security, and environmental benefits," said Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of Barbados. "Barbados is committed to scaling up its use of renewable energy. By working with Sustainable Energy for All, we can share our experiences while learning from others."

Private Sector Corporations, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises:

Microsoft has committed to going carbon neutral and will be rolling out an internal carbon fee that will apply to Microsoft's business operations in over 100 countries. By putting a price on carbon, Microsoft aims to drive greater advances in efficiency in data centers and buildings, increase the procurement of renewable energy, and reduce travel-related emissions.
Global Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Partnership is scaling access to LPG for cooking. The commitment will transition 50 million people to LPG for cooking by 2018 and include more than US $750 million of new capital to invest in LPG systems and address first cost barriers for usage. Partners include the LPG industry, World LPG Association, and the World Bank, among others.
GDF Suez will invest in approximately 50 local energy entrepreneurship projects in developing countries by 2020. It will also increase both its own energy efficiency by 40% by 2017 as well as its installed capacity of renewable energy by 50% from 2009-2015.
Statoil continues to implement its "no production flaring" policy and to work with the World Bank to expand the Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership.
Eni has earmarked approximately US $5 billion to achieve its gas flaring and carbon intensity reduction goals. It will also spend approximately US $32 million to capture gas from its flaring reduction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, benefitting 140,000 people and their communities.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has committed approximately US $5 billion to commercialize affordable zero-emission vehicles, adding five distinct models by the end of 2012. It plans to have 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on roads through the 2016 fiscal year, as part of its work around public-private partnerships in support of a robust infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles.
d.Light Design, a social entrepreneur, is committed to providing solar lamps to 30 million people in more than 40 countries by 2015.
Infosys, a provider of business and outsourcing services in 32 countries, commits to reducing energy consumption by 50% and sourcing 100% of electricity from renewables, all by 2018.
FEMSA, a consumer company in Latin America, has committed to cover 85% of the energy needs of its Mexican operations through renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, by 2013.
The Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership pledges to install 50, 000 solar lanterns that will provide clean electricity to off-grid households. It will expand efforts in developing and emerging countries to transfer business know-how and expertise in electrification projects, including the development of Electrification Roadmaps for Southern Africa, which aims to provide access for 500 million people by 2025.
Masdar, of the United Arab Emirates, has set up renewable energy projects in Tonga and Afghanistan and created the Global High School Prize, awarding up to US $100,000 to five schools that submit winning cases for how to improve their school's energy footprint.

"With Sustainable Energy For All, Microsoft is working with governments, non-government organizations and other companies to accelerate our transition to cleaner, more reliable and secure energy sources," said Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist at Microsoft. "We believe that our commitment to carbon neutrality and implementation of an internal carbon fee is consistent with the culture of innovation at Microsoft which will help increase our focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy."

Financial Institutions, Donors and Development Banks:

Bank of America has set a ten year US $50 billion environmental business goal. Based on historical performance, the bank conservatively estimates that this should equate to approximately US $35 billion in Sustainable Energy for All's focus areas. Bank of America remains committed to advancing the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access.
Multilateral development banks have committed more than US $30 billion towards achieving Sustainable Energy for All's three objectives. The African Development Bank will invest US $20 billion in energy by 2030, and by doing so, will draw an additional US $80 billion by partnering with private and public enterprises. Investments will range from regional projects that benefit multiple countries, to small- and medium-scale energy projects that increase access to electricity in rural regions, including through its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has committed US $8 billion in energy efficiency projects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia over the next three years.
The World Bank Group has committed to doubling the leverage of its energy portfolio by mobilizing private, donor and public contributions to World Bank-supported projects, as well as supportive policies to expand energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Bank and the International Finance Corporation will expand existing programs such as Lighting Africa, which aims to provide affordable lighting to 70 million low-income households by 2020, as well as undertake new initiatives with the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, such as mapping of renewable energy resources. The Bank will also work with others, including the International Energy Agency, to produce a global baseline report tracking progress to date in achieving Sustainable Energy for All's three objectives.
OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has committed a minimum of US $1 billion to finance its "Energy for the Poor Initiative" and its work against energy poverty.
ClimateWorks Foundation commits up to US $15 million in supporting and matching funds over three years to assist India, China, Brazil, and Mexico to identify, adapt, and implement proven best-practice energy efficiency and renewable energy policies.

Non-Governmental Organizations, Artists, Academia, and Individual Actions:

Members of the rock band Linkin Park have launched the "Power the World" campaign with a petition drive to world leaders at Rio+20 urging an end to energy poverty and a pledging campaign to deliver 'Solar Suitcases' to health care workers in communities worldwide with no reliable lighting.
The UN Foundation is coordinating the Energy Access Practitioner Network, bringing together more than 500 individuals from 350 organizations to deliver energy services using innovations such as micro-grid and decentralized electricity applications.
The Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California Berkeley pledges to share tools for modeling low-carbon sustainable energy futures and to chair a network of academic partner institutions committed to building educational curricula around achieving the initiative's objectives.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in India commits to expanding lighting services to households in several developing countries, using solar and other clean energy technologies, impacting an estimated 10 million lives by 2018.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, along with 40 other professional associations, has pledged to mobilize their 2 million members worldwide in support of the initiative.

"Achieving sustainable energy for all is something that everyone can be involved in, and that's why we are eager to bring our millions of music and social media fans into this conversation," said Dave "Phoenix" Farrell, bassist in the Grammy Award-winning band Linkin Park, who have been involved in energy access programs in Haiti and Uganda. "People can watch videos and educate themselves about the issue, share information with their community, sign the pledge declaring their support of clean energy access, contribute to clean energy solutions on the ground and more. Everyone can do something to achieve the initiative's objectives."

Other notable commitments have been received from AB SKF, Accenture, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Duke Energy, Dupont, ESKOM, the Inter-American Development Bank, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Agency, Practical Action, the Rockefeller Foundation, Schneider Electric, Siemens, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the World Energy Council, the World Institute for Renewable Energy (WIRE), and many others profiled on: http://sustainableenergyforall.org/actions-commitments

One-on-one media interviews: Several members of the Secretary-General's High-Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All will be available for one-on-one media interviews during Rio+20. If you are interested in meeting with them, please contact:

Adrienne Caruso at [email protected] or at +1-440-864-5481

For more information about Sustainable Energy for All, please contact:

Jonathan Rich at [email protected] or +1-347-262-9115 and

Sean Bartlett at [email protected] or at +1-202-683-0453

For more information, please also visit: www.sustainableenergyforall.org

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