The Chair welcomed participants to the fifth session of UN-Energy and to the launch of the UN-Energy paper “The Energy Challenge for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals” that was held immediately following the session. The occasion marked the first tangible output produced by UN-Energy and appreciation was expressed to the World Bank and UNDP for drafting the paper, and to UNDP for arranging its publication and hosting the launch. The active participation of UN-Energy members in reviewing earlier drafts was also noted. Members were encouraged to distribute the paper widely and publicize its availability within their organizations and in relevant fora. A press release announcing the publication is also available. It was agreed that the Chair would write to UNDP country offices to distribute the document at the national level.
It was reported that the Chair of the CSD-14 has recently been appointed Minister of Finance of Georgia. The Bureau will meet in the Fall and begin deciding on organizational matters for the session, and decisions taken would be shared with UN-Energy. In the meantime, DESA has undertaken briefings to delegations, regional commissions and UN agencies and programmes in many UN-Energy members participated. The preparation of documentation for CSD-14 is underway and working outlines have been distributed. Contributions to the report on energy for sustainable development by agencies and programmes are encouraged but it was noted that, to date, few contributions have been received. In response to a query about how best the group could influence the political process, it was noted that the group was struck to unleash the potential of the UN organizations to implement decisions taken by the multilateral process and, as had been discussed in the past, it could coordinate inputs to SG reports. Preparations for CSD-14 are guided by decisions taken at CSD-11 and delegates have specifically requested case studies, best practices and examples of lessons learned especially during CSD-14, the review year of the two-year cycle.
The representative from UNEP noted the case study document agreed at the 13 May 2005 meeting would be very long, and that there was an underlying concern that cases would not be analyzed properly to best show how they could be replicated. A revised proposal for a document comprising two-page descriptions of activities undertaken by each agency was distributed. It was agreed to modify the original proposal in line with these suggestions and agencies were requested to focus on forward-looking projects that would highlight best practices and lessons learned from their activities. The lead organizations on this activity, UNEP, UNDP and DESA, were requested to distribute a format for contributions.
Mapping exercises were undertaken as a preliminary exercise to assist in determining where there are synergies among agencies to facilitate cooperation. The raw input to the exercise received was distributed, and those agencies that have not yet contributed were requested to do so. The secretariat was requested to organize the information in a matrix with supporting analytical text to highlight potential synergies.
FAO reported that a number of activities related to UN-Energy work on bio-energy have taken place recently or will take place in the coming months, including workshops, a proposal by the Government of Italy to launch an international partnership on bio-energy and the FAO Council. A workplan is under preparation and inputs by UN-Energy members are requested. UNCTAD recently joined other members on working on this activity.
The IAEA reported that work was underway in developing and applying models that would assist in analyzing policy options for increasing the use of renewable energy. Applying the model in China is underway with the assistance of the Energy Research Center in China. A mission is planned for Ghana to begin applying the model there, and appreciation was expressed to the Chair for providing national contacts in Ghana that could be helpful. It was noted that China and Ghana had been selected to test the model, and that efforts were made to coordinate with UN country teams. The World Bank expressed interest in joining this activity.
UNDP indicated that a proposal to integrate energy into national planning is forthcoming.
The regional commissions were requested to submit a proposal on capacity building.
It was noted that UN-Energy continues to cooperate with non-UN
partners on an ad hoc basis, often scheduling meetings in the
margins of relevant non-UN energy meetings. In this way members
interact with non-UN partners both informally and formally,
and UN-Energy is provided an opportunity to formally address
non-UN players. With respect to non-UN participants at
CSD-14, DESA was requested to provide a strategy for their participation.
It was agreed to hold the next meeting of UN-Energy in the margins of the African Regional Implementation Meeting for CSD14 to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24-28 October 2005.