The Video/Telephone Conference was attend by representatives of DESA, ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA, FAO, IAEA, INSTRAW, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFCCC, UNIDO and the World Bank. The Chair welcomed the group and opened the floor for a review of the energy scene and for a discussion on perspectives for enhancing consensus in the global debate on energy for sustainable development. It was noted that energy issues and related policies are currently a top priority agenda item in many fora, including the up-coming 15th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. Recent G8 consultations also highlighted the importance of energy issues, in particular the continued lack of access to energy for the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was noted that some increased funding was now available to expand access to reliable and affordable energy services for sustainable development for the poor in Africa, but very large additional investments are still needed urgently. Necessary mitigation and adaptation to climate change are also topics increasingly moving to the center of the global energy policy debate. The G8 summits to be held in Germany in 2007 and in Japan in 2008 are also expected to take up energy policy matters. Members of UN-Energy congratulated the World Bank upon moving forward the discussion on an Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development. UNDP reminded the group that time is passing fast and much additional action will be needed if the Millennium Development Goals were to be achieved by 2015. UNDP informed the group that its Human Development Report 2007 will focus on the themes of environment, energy and climate change. As a leading agent for capacity building UNDP plans to assist 60 developing countries in the formulation and implementation of MDG focused national development strategies. Several members, including UNEP, observed a growing awareness in the international community that climate change demands faster action than there has been in the past. Preparations for CSD DESA informed the group of the initial preparatory consultations for CSD-15 and the up-coming 1st meeting of the CSD-15 Bureau. Against the background of a heightened international awareness of the importance of investments in energy and energy policies for sustainable development the members reflected on the increased need for common positions and discussed various possibilities for raising the visibility of UN-Energy, its efficiency and its impact. The World Bank suggested the preparation of a concise policy paper reflecting a common UN-Energy position on policy issues under discussion at CSD-15. The possibility of writing a letter to introduce UN-Energy and its work to the Chair of the CSD-15 Bureau was also discussed, and the UN-Energy Chair and DESA agreed to explore and communicate further on this option. Work Programme Toolkits for policy integration at the national level: IAEA briefed the group on data collection and preparations undertaken towards the planned study for Sichuan province of China regarding policy integration, analytical tools and options for increasing the share of renewable energy in energy supply. It was suggested to exchange further information among the collaborating members with a view to involve additional national partners in this study effort, review its conceptual approach, define the renewable energy policies to be tested and facilitate access to the necessary data. Taking the lead on this activity, IAEA expects to complete the pertinent report in time for CSD-15. UNDP, the lead agency for developing toolkits for mainstreaming energy considerations into national decision making, introduced the draft concept paper on this activity. The group welcomed the paper and the additional information. Several members expressed interest in developing collaboration, but requested UNDP to more clearly define the areas in which useful contributions can be made. FAO, the lead agency on bioenergy, introduced the outline for the planned UN Energy publication on bioenergy, explained the timelime and confirmed that comments from all UN-Energy members would be solicited and incorporated. The publication would not be a technical document, but would be easy to read and would be formatted with a layout similar to that of the UN-Energy Access Paper and the other publications. The publication will be made available for circulation by the time of CSD-15, and would likely remain relevant for some time as CSD16-17 will consider agriculture among other issues. FAO acknowledged the comments and suggestions already received from the World Bank and from UNCTAD. Electronic communications / Website Efforts are underway at DESA to up-date and to further improve the UN-Energy webpage. All agencies are invited to periodically review their profiles under the mapping exercise on energy access and renewable energy, and provide any new, up-dated or additional information to the UN-Energy secretariat (wahnschafft@un.org). Similarly, all agencies are invited to keep the UN-Energy secretariat informed of any major events of interest to other members so that the Website information can be kept current.