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Bridging the Energy Divide: Energy, Sustainability and the WSSD

This article discusses the importance of energy in sustainable development and the priorities of African and South African energy sectors. It explores the outcomes of the CSD9 conference and the expectations for the WSSD. The article also highlights the role of parliamentarians and the need for innovative international actions in bridging the energy divide.

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Bridging the Energy Divide: Energy, Sustainability and the WSSD

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  1. Bridging the energy divide:energy, sustainability and the WSSD GLOBE SA First Parliamentary Conference ahead of the WSSD Parliament of South Africa, 23 October 2001 Randall Spalding-Fecher Energy & Development Research CentreUniversity of Cape Town

  2. Overview • Visions of energy and sustainable development • African and South African energy priorities • Energy and the international sustainable development debate • Where do we stand? Outcomes of CSD9 • What can we expect from WSSD? • Innovation in international actions • Role of parliamentarians

  3. Visions of energy and sustainable development • Energy as catalyst for economic and social development and poverty alleviation • Importance of energy services rather than energy per se – can’t eat a kilowatt hour • Massive increase in access to affordable, clean energy essential to sustainable development – two billion with no commercial energy • Perceived tension between the cost of access and the cost of environmental sustainability – but most energy is wasted, so huge potential for win-win • Revolution in energy technology can support this

  4. Articulating a vision Targets Population with access to clean, affordable energy – eg SA goals of universal access to electricity National, Regional and International policies and measures Implementation mechanisms and partners Resources – how much will it cost and who will pay? Share of renewable energy or electricity – eg Eskom says 5-10% of electricity output by 2020 from renewables

  5. African priorities: New Africa Initiative/ Millennium Africa Plan • Targets • Cut extreme poverty in half from 1990 to 2015 • Increase access to commercial energy from 10% to 35% by 2015 • Support major boost in GDP growth to 7% • Reverse environmental degradation from traditional fuels • Mechanisms/actions • eg African Forum of utility regulators, • Implement strategies for regional development of hydropower, grid and pipelines • Resources • ODA targets of 0.7% of GNP must be met, plus accelerate debt relief, innovative infrastructure financing

  6. South African priorities • White Paper on Energy Policy • Improved access • Improving energy sector governance • Improving economic efficiency • Increase diversity of supply sources • Minimise environmental impacts of energy • Targets? Actions? Resources? • How can international actions support these goals?

  7. At what level is action effective? Specific policies to promote access, renewables, etc - e.g. renewable electricity set aside, equipment and building efficiency standards, vehicle efficiency standards, ‘wires charge’ to fund public benefits programmes National Regional infrastructure (pipelines, grids) and trade, harmonising regulations, achieving economies of scale, information exchange Regional Financing commitments and mechanisms (eg GEF, CDM), global target setting, technology transfer commitments and mechanisms, information sharing/networking support International/ North-South

  8. Energy in the international debate UNCED (1992)No energy, but adopt UNFCCC Rio+5 (1997) Decide to consider energy in CSD process Millennium Summit (2000) Poverty targets, and environment but no energy targets CSD9(2001)Recom-mendations for national, regional and international action WSSD(2002) Energy Programme of action?

  9. Accessibility of energy Energy efficiency Renewable energy Rural energy Energy and transport Advanced fossil technologies Nuclear technologies Research & development Capacity building Technology transfer Information sharing Financial resources Making markets work – no harmful subsidies Participation CSD9 - Energy for sustainable development Areas Cross-cutting issues National/international Targets? International actions?

  10. CSD9 International actions • Removing harmful subsidies to make markets work • Increase financial resources and use them in innovative ways • Public-private partnerships to promote renewables, energy efficiency and advanced fossil • Networking centres of excellence on energy for sustainable development – capacity building • Grants and loans to share infrastructure costs • Use international financial structures to help manage risk • Equal opportunities for women, including credit and policy making

  11. What can we expect from WSSD on energy? • Political statement: the ‘Global Deal’ with overarching goals • Programme of Action: how to implement CSD9 policy goals • international actions: partnerships as much as institutions and instruments • National actions: menu for governments • Targets and timeframes: key part of Global Deal and POA • How to engage stakeholders in broader commitment? incentives; voluntary, multi-stakeholder deal on partnerships

  12. Partnerships approach: G8 Renewable Energy Task Force • Ambitious targets for 2010 • Improved biomass use for 200 m, access to renewable electricity for 300 m, access to grid by 500 m (300 m in developing countries) • Clear roles for partners • G8 governments, international financial institutions (IFIs) , private sector, other governments, civil society • Detailed set of programmes • Eg expand R&D programmes, formulate ‘smart subsidies’ for RE and remove harmful ones, voluntary commitments by industry, realign flows from IFIs

  13. Innovative international actions • Stronger guidance to international financial institutions and export credit agencies • Ratify Kyoto Protocol • World Energy Forum for global dialogue • Permanent UN inter-agency task force on energy • Annual meetings on global sustainable energy finance • International energy clearinghouse and training initiative • World sustainable energy programme and financing

  14. Role of parliamentarians • As negotiators, push for global deal and commitment to access to clean, affordable energy for all • Implement national and international recommendations through legislation (e.g. national energy policies, ODA commitments) • Engage departments to set national targets and write into law • Monitor national progress toward sustainability • e.g. 10% of electricity from renewables by 2020 • Universal access to commercial energy • 10% improvement in national energy efficiency by 2010

  15. Eight sustainability indicators for the energy sector 1. Carbon emissions per capita 2. Most important local energy pollutant Environment 3. Access to electricity 4. Clean energy investment Society 5. Vulnerability to trade 6. Burden of energy investments Economy 7. Energy intensity 8. Share of renewable energy Technology

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