Climate Action 2011-2012

20 climateactionprogramme.org
expanding acceSS To
SuSTainable energy
Sustainable Energy for All and energy access for the poor
remains a top priority. In collaboration with other agencies
UNDP supports national commitments and plans to drive
concrete interventions on the three national-level energy
targets. UN Country Teams and the UN Resident Coordinators
will deliver collaborative programmatic and policy
initiatives on the ground.
To achieve these goals, the focus falls on three areas:
• Strengthening policy and institutional frameworks for lowemission,
climate-resilient development;
• Mobilising and expanding financing options and helping
to establish supportive policy and regulatory frameworks,
and removing barriers to market access;
• Developing effective approaches for scaling up energy
service delivery, through field-proven and innovative
business models that are financially and institutionally
sustainable.
The aim is to achieve universal energy access and expand
access to modern energy services which boost incomegenerating
activities and protect human health and the
environment. The challenge is to make it happen at
sufficient scale and speed to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
Since 1992, UNDP has supported about 3,000 energy
projects with a combined value of more than US$4 billion
(including co-financing). Examples of these collaborative
interventions are given in the following paragraphs:
• In the Philippines, the Department of Energy worked to
remove market, policy, technical, and financial barriers
to renewable energy through a combination of strategies.
These included strengthening the capacity of government
agencies to enact and implement supportive renewable
energy policies and standards, and providing financing
mechanisms and incentives for renewable energy in
remote, off-grid communities.
• In Chile, a Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiative
set out to remove barriers to the use of non-conventional
renewable energies. A set of activities is designed to allow
for a decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions produced by
energy sources in rural areas. By means of co-funding, more
than 10,000 households will be supplied with electricity.
• In Tanzania and in the Dominican Republic, GEF support
for community-led initiatives promoting solar photovoltaic
technology has helped to shape policies and financing for
rural electrification.
UNDP consistently adheres to its core development
principles and maintains a focus on the MDGs, ensuring that
its assistance directly benefits everyone, including the poor.
Interventions on low-emission, climate-resilient development
strategies are in line with national priorities. The emphasis is
on making cost-effective use of available funds by pursuing
interventions that are transformational, and catalysing
market-based initiatives to achieve the scale of activity needed
to make effective, measurable and lasting improvements. In
addition, capacity development and attention to gender are
priorities across all projects and activities.
concluSionS
Achieving universal access to sustainable energy is an ambitious
endeavour, but it is achievable. There are no fundamental
technical barriers, and it is within reach financially. Experience
shows that rapid progress in scaling up programmes and
expanding the rate of energy access is indeed possible.
The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook
2010 estimates that an additional investment of US$756
billion (US$36 billion per year) would be required to
achieve the target of universal access to modern energy
services by 2030. This is less than 3 per cent of projected
global energy investments.
Providing sustainable energy
services for all requires coordination
and collaboration with
all development partners.
Providing sustainable energy services for all requires coordination
and collaboration with all development partners.
National governments, local authorities, private entities, civil
society organisations and communities all have important
roles to play. In addition, South-South co-operation will
be increasingly vital, as countries share relevant expertise,
experience, and good practices.
There is a need for greater co-ordination of poverty
reduction, energy access, sustainable energy and climate
change initiatives. Access to clean energy is critical, not only
to provide hope and opportunities for those who currently
have no electricity, efficient fuels or modern technologies,
but also because it has an important part to play in creating
a low carbon development future for all.
Helen Clark became the Administrator of the United Nations
Development Programme in April 2009, and is the first woman to
lead the organisation. She is also the Chair of the United Nations
Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN
funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.
Before her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for nine years
as Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three successive terms
from 1999-2008.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s
global development network, advocating for change and connecting
countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people
build a better life.
United Nations Development Programme
One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 USA
Tel: +1 212 906 5000 | Web: www.beta.undp.org