Commission on Sustainable Development: 'we need a revolution in energy efficiency'.

A COMPREHENSIVE AND BROAD-BASED DISCUSSION BY the Commission on Sustainable Development, to review progress in the areas of energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air and atmospheric pollution and climate change, concluded on 12 May 2006 at UN Headquarters in New York amid heightened concerns over energy security and the growing demand for energy resources, as well as the pervasive and persistent poverty that impeded access to modern and cleaner energy services.

The Commission's fourteenth session, held from 1 to 12 May, also concluded its three-day high-level segment, with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling for the exploration of ways to bring the poor into the modern energy and industrial economy, while moving energy use and economic activity onto a cleaner path. "We have the knowledge and resources to conquer poverty that blights so many lives and to safeguard our planet and its climate for generations to come", he said, adding that "we need a revolution in energy efficiency and new efforts to scale up investment in renewable energy". He also urged countries to fulfil their commitments to climate agreements and integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation measures into national sustainable development strategies.

Several of the Secretary-General's reports were also taken up, including a review of progress in meeting the goals and targets of Agenda 21 and the outcome of the 2002 World Summit in the areas of energy, industrial development, pollution and climate change. Mr. Annan said that addressing in an integrated manner the sustainable development challenges relating to these issues could serve to enhance synergies, seize win-win opportunities and minimize trade-offs where they exist. Though some progress had been achieved in alleviating poverty since 2002 through access to energy, especially in improving access to electricity, 2.4 billion people worldwide still have no access to modern energy services and one quarter of the global population still lives without electricity.

Also before the Commission was the Chairman's summary of the session, aimed at facilitating the policy debate on energy in 2007. Broad recognition had emerged that all stakeholders--donors, lenders, Governments, the private sector and major groups--should participate in shaping a common, shared and feasible long-term global energy strategy in support of sustainable development. Such a strategy should: fulfil present and future energy needs of developed and developing countries, based on affordability, reliability and accessibility; ensure energy security, together with safety, human health and environmental protection; and establish a global, fair and firm commitment from all countries to tackle climate change effectively.

A new report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, entitled Trends in Sustainable Development, also looked at the four interrelated areas under consideration. It recognized the close link between energy and economic development, poverty reduction and the provision of vital services. Given a broad understanding that energy production, distribution and consumption could have adverse effects on the environment, efforts are under way to improve access to modern energy services, increase energy efficiency, reduce air pollution and shift to cleaner energy sources, the report states.

The Commission also heard from representatives of other major groups, which included children and youth, women, business and industry, farmers, indigenous people, non-governmental organizations, scientific and technological communities, workers and trade unions, on their roles in and contributions to the implementation of the goals and targets of Agenda 21.

The 53-member functional body of the Economic and Social Council was established by the General Assembly in 1992 to ensure full support for Agenda 21--a comprehensive blueprint for action drawn up by Governments at the 1992 Earth Summit--to move the world away from its unsustainable model of economic growth towards activities that would meet development needs without compromising the environment. The Commission seeks to build partnerships to address key sustainable development issues and help coordinate environment and development activities within the United Nations system.