UN official urges Asian countries to commit to sustainable energy for all by 2030

A United Nations official today urged Asian countries to commit to achieving sustainable energy for all their citizens by 2030 by increasing access to and the efficiency of renewable energy sources.

“Reaching the goal of sustainable energy for all will require action by all countries and all sectors to shape the policy and investment decisions needed for a brighter energy future,” said Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Chair of UN-Energy Kandeh K. Yumkella.

Globally, one person in five lacks access to modern electricity and twice than number – three billion people – rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating. In developed countries, the problem comes from a substantial waste of energy.

“Industrialized countries must accelerate the transition to low-emission technologies. Developing countries, many of them growing rapidly and at large scale, have the opportunity to leapfrog conventional energy options and move directly to cleaner energy alternatives that will enhance economic and social development,” Mr. Yumkella told the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

To tackle this issue as well as stimulate economic growth and the preservation of the environment, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which seeks to ensure universal access to modern energy services, double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix within the next 20 years.

To guide this initiative, Mr. Ban appointed a high-level group of global leaders from business, finance, government and civil society to mobilize and facilitate commitments to action which will help drive change. Mr. Yumkella, a co-chair of this group, told participants at the conference that new commitments and investments in sustainable energy were critical for Asia’s development.

“I strongly believe that now more than ever, the world needs to ensure that the benefits of modern energy are available to all and that energy is provided as cleanly and efficiently as possible. This is a matter of equity, first and foremost, but it is also an issue of urgent practical importance,” he said.