Conference, during the Eighth International Forum on Energy for SustainableDevelopment, which opened in Astana, Kazakhstan on 11 June.
Seven voluntary actions in the Ministerial Declaration outline ways toaccelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system, from establishing
national sustainable energy action plans, to developing internationallyrecognized minimum energy performance standards in all sectors, andadvancing methods for public data collection and indicators on energy forsustainable development.
The event was held under the auspices of EXPO 2017 'Future Energy,' and forthe eighth time, is co-organized by the five UN regional commissions,coming full circle in Astana, where the first forum was held in 2010.High-level participants addressed sustainable energy challenges andopportunities in five ministerial dialogues covering sustainable energy,energy security, regional trade and infrastructure, the energy-climate-foodnexus, renewable energy in Central Asia and promoting new technologies aninnovations. More than 1,000 people attended the Ministerial Conference.
At the opening ceremony, United Nations Under-Secretary-General andExecutive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commissionfor Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, acknowledged that theglobal energy transition is underway.
Speaking on behalf of the five regional commissions, Dr. Akhtar said, "The2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change, together with market, infrastructure and technology advancementshave great potential to shape a future powered by clean, sustainableenergy. However, to accelerate the transition to a world based onsustainable energy, and to address the aspects of quality of life anduneven distribution of energy, we must deal with the long-term challengesand opportunities."
Dr. Akhtar emphasized that energy supply enhancements are critical toaddress existing deficits and meet the needs of over 1.4 billion peoplewithout energy access. She stressed that reducing dependence on fossil fuelsources is also urgent, as the carbon budget to keep the world within 2degrees of warming is dwindling.
Mr. Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, noted the immense
potential nationally and globally for growth in GDP and employment through
growing the green economy. Mentioning the Kazakh proverb "what is sown by
fathers will be harvested by children," he described energy as "crucial for
development" and noted the need for balancing sustainable development and
environmental protection as a commitment to future generations. The Prime
Minister also expressed hope that the Ministerial Conference and its
Declaration will further promote the long-term cooperation of all
stakeholders on sustainable energy.
In her address, Ms. Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), underlined the critical
need to close the gap between current actions and commitments on the 2030
Agenda and the Paris Agreement, and what is truly needed to achieve their
implementation.
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