The Chair welcomed the group and opened the floor for a review of accomplishments of CSD14 with a view to UN-Energy’s effective input for CSD15. DESA thanked members for their participation in UN-Energy and indicated that the outcome of CSD14, highlighting barriers, constraints and continuing challenges, has set the stage for policy deliberations CSD15.
DESA noted that the matrix of activities is being updated and revised based information and comments received during CSD14. The matrix is intended to provide an easy access of case studies, lessons learned and best practices, but it can also be used to cull policy lessons which could be useful for CSD15 and as a tool for follow-up to CSD15. Agencies are encouraged to provide input to the matrix as well as feed back on its usefulness. The matrix of activities can be accessed at: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd14/review.htm With regard to CSD15, DESA noted that many delegates have indicated a desire for action-oriented, concrete results at the ground level and, in addition to policy agreement, deliverables and major announcements are expected. Many were pleased with the outcome of CSD14 including the contribution that UN-Energy made on achieving the MDGs that has taken root especially with regard to energy access for the poor. The CSD14 outcome lays the groundwork for meaningful policy decisions at CSD15 and for bold actions to advance energy access. UNEP indicated that UN-Energy now has the opportunity to show its usefulness for collaborative action.
A review of accomplished work included the IAEA-led work on developing national tools for assessing the potential of renewable energy. An application of the model to Ghana has been accomplished – it was presented at CSD14 – and the model will be applied to China. These applications were viewed as a good test of the tool which will be made available to those interested in utilizing it for policy guidance.
UNDP stressed the importance of mainstreaming energy and access to energy into regional policy frameworks, such as ECOWAS, as well as at the national level. UNDP is leading on-going UN-Energy work to provide toolkits for improving energy access at the national level, and suggested expanding this work to include a facility for knowledge sharing and a platform for making expertise within UN-Energy available at the national level. This suggestion was well received, and UNDP indicated that an output during the first quarter of 2007 is feasible.
FAO, the lead on bioenergy, indicated that the evaluation of bioenergy systems is is underway and a publication on critical aspects of bioenergy would be produced by CSD15. This would include an assessment of the state of bioenergy and elaboration on criteria for implementing bioenergy systems. It was noted that this work would also be relevant for CSD16/17 when agriculture will be under consideration.
UNEP introduced two proposals for new UN-Energy activities which were adopted. One activity would be an analysis of how climate change affects energy-related decisions to provide guidance to energy decision makers. There was discussion on this issue and how such work could contribute to on-going work in the area such as the 4th Assessment to be undertaken in 2007 for which energy is a cross-cutting theme.
This could provide the basis for a roundtable discussion at CSD15 with UN-Energy and others such as IPCC. It was also suggested that this work could be linked to the national toolbox activity. This proposal was adopted as a new item in the work programme.
The second activity proposed by UNEP would be to build on work undertaken by the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable which is holding a series of regional meetings on the contribution of renewable energy to poverty alleviation. UN-Energy viewed this activity favorably and requested more details about how it could contribute effectively.
UNIDO indicated that it would be proposing an additional work item related to energy efficiency. UNESCO invited members to participate in ministerial seminars to be held during 2006-2007 on 1) the role of renewable energy in globalization; 2) access to energy potentials at national levels; and 3) human resources and capacity building. UNESCO volunteered to develop a concept note detailing proposed work on assessing capabilities. UNDP volunteered to circulate a note to UN-Energy on work undertaken in conjunction with IIASA, WEC, the World Bank and some national governments on a Global Energy Assessment.
It was agreed to produce the following three products by CSD15: