Supporting the political preparations for Rio2012, the UNDESA secretariat’s analytical preparations, and the high level group appointed to the official UN year of Sustainable Energy for All, leading research institutes have joined forces to produce a global assessment on sustainable energy for all. The assessment is supported by the Governments of Sweden and Brazil.
(2011). A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All. Stockholm Environment Institute and Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development. 2011. “A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All." Stockholm and Rio de Janeiro, October 30th, 2011.
The assessment builds on and integrates existing efforts in among partners such as the Global Energy Assessment (IIASA, PBL and SEI), Planetary Boundaries (SEI and PBL), Low carbon development (ACPC), energy access and clean energy (TERI), Electricity Governance (WRI), Brazilian Biofuels Programs from the water, energy and land nexus perspective” (COPPE), Guidelines for a Green Economy in Brazil (FBDS) and Integrated Sustainability Scenarios (PBL).
Strategic principles
The overarching recommendation for the world’s nations to consider is the adoption of a set of strategic principles, translated into practical action in order to enable a global energy transition in time to avoid large scale crises for nations of the world:
Accelerate the implementation of national and international energy policies that drive efficiency enhancements and provide incentives for innovation and support scale-up of renewable energy sources (e.g., white and green certificates, feed-in tariffs, technology standards, and removal of subsidies for fossil energy sources).
Develop a transparent global investment fund for renewable energy systems for poor and emerging economies and couple this with technology sharing and learning platforms for sustainable energy. Investments and accelerated adoption of renewable energy technologies by developed countries can bring down the costs thereby reducing the size of the fund needed.
Develop policy assessment frameworks for economic development policies and strategies that enable the management of Earth systems risks and vulnerabilities in relation to renewable and non-renewable energy expansion worldwide, and its linkages to other sectors such as water and agriculture. The planetary boundaries framework can be a basis for an integrated and systemic assessment framework for the world’s energy systems, with due regard to issues of equity and justice.
Adopt sustainable energy supply and demand measures as a ”currency” for measuring progress in development endeavors (e.g., for reaching the Millennium Development Goals) and for policy action on meeting global environmental goals. This means that sustainable energy provision or demand improvements are accounted for and credited within the global negotiating frameworks including UNFCCC and CBD.
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The UA-GRIDEX project assists Ukrainian energy planners in enhancing the region's energy system's resilience through decentralisation and digitalisation.
Past event /
The webinar is an overview of smart microgrids, technologies, business models and enabling policy environment for efficient energy systems in Africa.