The Chair welcomed all participants and noted that, while institutional representation remained the same, there were some new representatives. He extended a warm welcome to them on behalf of the group. In looking back over the almost two years of UN-Energy’s existence, the Chair indicated that it’s a very appropriate time to take a self-reflective look at the group’s accomplishments and examine how we can overcome some of the impediments to working together to speed up delivery of the work programme. The almost completed flagship, tentatively entitled “Energy in the United Nations: An Overview of UN Energy Activities” report would be the second UN-Energy product and will be published in May for CSD-14. This follows “The Energy Challenge for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals” the first UN-Energy report published in July 2005 and launched during the 2005 session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). A third publication, “Assessing policy options for increasing the use of renewable energy for sustainable development: modeling energy scenarios for Ghana” is also expected to be published by CSD-14 and represents the output from an item on the UN-Energy work programme. The Chair noted that this work, along with participation in a number of stakeholder events during the past two years, is a good start for the group, but that this is a challenging year ahead and delivery of the remaining items in the work programme is important. While UN-Energy has been active in a number of stakeholder activities, this may also be a time to reassess how we might build on these interactions in the future.
DESA thanked UN-Energy members for their assistance in preparing for CSD-14 including inputs to the Secretary-General’s report on “Energy for Sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere, and climate change: progress in meeting the goals, targets and commitments of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation” , as well as participation in preparatory meetings, CSD session panels, the Learning Centre, the Partnership Fair and side events. The final, edited report is available, along with other information about CSD-14 at: http://www.un.org/sustdev/index.htm The report is also posted on the UN-Energy website at:http://esa.un.org/un-energy/index.htm
DESA indicated that the Programme of Work is available now on the CSD website and that many UN-Energy members would be participating in the panels. The Chair of UN-Energy will participate in a panel on “Enhancing means of implementation through sub-regional, regional and international cooperation” on Friday, 5 May in the morning session.
There are many side events planned and the DESA representative indicated that those who have applied to hold side events would have confirmation by Friday, 7 April 2006. A number of meetings have been held that will be inputs to CSD-14, a number of which UN-Energy participated including the Energy for Development meeting hosted by the Netherlands in December 2004, the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy in May 2005 and the African Regional Implementation meeting in October 2005. Other events such as meetings on renewable energy in Bonn and Beijing had broad participation from UN-Energy members as did a number of meetings, seminars and workshops on energy held during the past year by various governments. DESA also invited the group to provide inputs to CSD-14 matrix that has been developed to enable easy access to information submitted to the Secretariat on case studies, lessons learned and best practices. The initial version is on the web along with a guide for submissions, and the matrix will be updated periodically.
DESA noted that the outcome of CSD-14 is a Chair’s Summary that is based on discussions held during the session. The best way for UN-Energy members to have an input to the Chair’s Summary, is to make their points heard during the inter-active sessions. It was also noted that the multi-stakeholder participation in CSD is substantial and encouraged.
It was noted that the CSD offers an opportunity to contribute the value added of the group to the intergovernmental process, and that enhanced efforts would be made to better contribute to the preparations.
The lead agencies on the UN-Energy Flagship report, namely UNDP, UNEP and DESA thanked everyone for their inputs and for working with the consultant in a timely fashion. They reported that the work is under finalization and will be sent to the printer soon. It will be published by 1 May in time for CSD14. The Chair noted that it is a very good overview of UN work on energy and, the text reads very well and sets the stage for future joint work. Others noted that cross linkages are highlighted making it easier to identify possible future areas of cooperation.
The UN-Energy Secretariat will circulate member contact information for their stay in New York during CSD.
Key activities by UN-Energy and individual members will be posted on the UN-Energy website.
The group agreed to hold a side event during CSD-14 based on the proposal circulated prior to the Video Conference. The side event will be used to launch the flagship report and will highlight the application of modeling techniques to assess renewable energy using the case study of Ghana.
a. Tools for policy integration at the national level (IAEA)
The IAEA reported that the application of the model to assess the impacts of using more renewable energy to Ghana was complete and could be published by CSD14. It would be available for the UN-Energy side event. IAEA indicated that work had been undertaken in a spirit of cooperation and the UNIDO had joined the working group and had contributed data from a UNIDO project with mini-hydro plant in Ghana, so real-time data was used in calculating the model. The work was undertaken in cooperation with the Energy Commission of Ghana and UNEP and DESA had also provided inputs. The modeling staff at IAEA had contributed significant efforts to this task and their work is appreciated. It was noted that this report is very interesting and gives for intended users, it is significant for its application of modeling to assess the impact s of renewable energy use rather than as a policy tool for Ghana. The introduction should reflect the relevance of the report. There was also some discussion of the title and the IAEA agreed to consider the suggestions.
b. Bioenergy (FAO)
The representative from FAO, the lead organization on this activity,
provided an update on the recently finalized FAO bio-energy report
which been circulated prior to the meeting, and will be posted
on the UN-Energy website. He indicated that the UN-Energy product
is to be developed between csd14 and csd15. This will be part
of a package of initiatives on bio-energy that includes projects
funded by the UN Foundation and a Partnership on Bio-energy that
will be launched by the Government of Italy during
CSD-14. The Partnership secretariat will be hosted by FAO in its
Rome premises.
c. Mapping Exercises (UN-Energy Secretariat)
The UN-Energy secretariat indicated that the mapping exercises on renewable energy and access to energy would be completed soon on the basis of tables circulated prior to the meeting. Comments on the tables and/or additional inputs to the exercise would be appreciated. Mapping exercises will be available on a test page on the website for members only to view before making the information publicly available.
d. Toolkits for National Poverty Reduction Strategies (UNDP)
The representative from UNDP, the lead on this activity, indicated that they would be circulating information about the toolkits soon, with a view to launching a collaborative effort to expand policy options to main stream energy considerations to national development planning.
e. Capacity Building Awareness (regional commissions).
The regional commissions indicated that they were still interested in pursuing this area of work, and that ESCWA would remain the lead agency. Some regional commissions noted that capacity building activities are not part of their regular work, though they were interested in contributing to a UN-Energy effort on the topic. ESCWA invited regional commissions, and other UN-Energy members, to participate in their on-going work on improving capacities.
It was noted that reform of the United Nations is underway and the Chief Executives Board (CEB) will discuss reform at its forthcoming meeting in Madrid. This follows a joint meeting of the High Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) and the High Level Committee on Management (HLCM) in March. UN-Energy may want to consider the matter of reform
It was agreed to hold a very brief meeting during CSD-14 to touch base, tentatively scheduled on 4 May 2006, followed by a post-CSD meeting to reflect on CSD and possible reform issues.