Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to thank the Panelists on behalf of Group of 77 and China for their succinct and useful presentations. The keen insights and perspectives provided by distinguished Panelists on Energy for Sustainable Development would indeed enrich our deliberations during this session.

The Group of 77 & China is convinced of the importance of addressing the four thematic issues of CSD-15: Energy for Sustainable Development, industrial development, climate change and air/atmospheric pollution within the over arching framework of sustainable development and its three pillars: economic development, social development, and environmental protection.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development recognized the three overarching objectives of sustainable development as: protecting natural resources, eradicating poverty, and changing unsustainable production and consumption patterns. It is in this context, and while reaffirming the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development, that we call for policies and actions that will enable the developing countries to bridge the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor.

The key role of energy in achieving the goals of sustainable development, poverty eradication and achieving the MDGs is critical. Partnerships for energy and sustainable development, as appropriate, at national, regional and international levels, need to be promoted. In this regard, adequate policies must take into consideration the special needs of developing countries, particularly those in Africa, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

We would also like to emphasize the needs of countries emerging from conflict in the areas of capacity building, technical cooperation and infrastructure development.

Mr. Chairman,

Increasing growth and subsequent increasing energy demand is putting strains on the existing resources of developing countries. We are faced with formidable task of meeting the increasing demand for energy to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

At the same time, increasing access to energy and enhanced energy efficiency are other challenges that we face.     

We are convinced of the need for adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources, technology transfer and political will, as well as commitment to innovative ways of applying energy efficient, environmentally sound, cost-effective and socially acceptable technologies and systems.

Given that fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in the energy mix in the decades to come, the development and use of advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies should be increased. More efforts should go into supporting the further development and dissemination of those       technologies.

We are cognizant of the need to diversify energy supply and developing advanced, cleaner, more efficient affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, including fossil fuel technologies and renewable energy technologies, hydro and bio-fuels and their transfer to developing countries on concessional terms as mutually agreed. Substantial increase in the global share of renewable energy sources is an urgent imperative; with the objective of increasing it’s contribution to total energy supply, recognizing the role of national and regional voluntary targets and initiatives, where they exist. It is important to ensure that energy policies are supportive of developing countries’ efforts aimed at eradication of poverty, and that available data to review progress to this end is evaluated regularly.

The pressing need to enhance International Cooperation in this field should be urgently taken into account to assist developing countries.

Mr. Chairman,

In order to meet the challenges that we face in the area of energy for sustainable development, Group of 77 and China suggests the following policy options to be endorsed by CSD-15:

Firstly, we need to increase accessibility to energy, including through:

• Inviting national governments to include in their programmes and national plans measures for the expansion of energy services to the poor, particularly in rural and remote areas.
• Promoting, at the national level, rural electrification projects, and supporting local efforts to provide energy supplies to the basic infrastructures.
• Combining, as appropriate within policy flexibility according to the varying conditions of different countries, an “energy mix” encompassing the increased use of renewable energy resources, more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies.
• Supporting the establishment and upgrading of the infrastructure for energy transport and storage, including the establishment of pipelines from energy producing countries to the market.
• Promoting an environment which enables the public sector, the private sector and, as appropriate, energy cooperatives, including through public-private partnerships, to engage in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy at affordable rate and in the transfer of technology.
• Raising the awareness and implementing initiatives that promote sustainable consumption and production, including training and capacity building programs.
• Supporting efforts to improve the functioning, transparency and information about energy markets with respect to both supply and demand, with the aim of achieving grater stability and predictability , and to ensure consumer access to reliable , affordable, economically viable , socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services

Secondly, we should improve energy efficiency, including through:

• Developing, as appropriate, at the country and, regional levels, energy efficiency and consumption programmes and policy options.
• Increasing the support of International Financial Institutions for improving energy efficiency in local and national electricity grids in developing countries through reduction of electricity loses in transportation and distribution networks.
• Countries may voluntarily set national or regional goals for energy efficiency.
• Applications of advanced and clean energy technology, including for reducing gas flaring and venting.
• Strengthening capacity building, including education and training, to improve the performance of energy and materials used.
• Promoting increased research and development in the field of various energy technologies, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced energy technologies, including advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies, as well as bio-fuels, both nationally and through regional and international collaboration.
• Establishing a supportive framework, at the national level, of policies and regulatory environmental measures, that include: power sector reform, energy efficiency policies, laws and targets, energy audits, codes testing, certification and labeling.
• Strengthening national and regional energy efficiency programmes, and supporting investment in, and the transfer of, modern energy efficiency technologies, including advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies, to developing countries, including through innovative sources of funding.

Thirdly, we can enhance regional cooperation, through:

• Increasing the engagement of countries through the establishment of regional/sub-regional arrangements, to give high priority to increased energy access and enhanced energy efficiency.
• Strengthening cooperation between national and regional energy institutions, on energy for sustainable development as well as encouraging networking in research and development, including through cyber laboratories.
• Strengthening and facilitating as appropriate, regional cooperation arrangements, including the inter connection of electricity grids and oil and natural gas pipelines.
• Fostering regional cooperation in developing renewable energy and advanced fossil fuel technologies, and encouraging regional cooperation for capacity building, including through south-south, north-south and triangular cooperation.

Fourthly, we should also enhance international cooperation, through:

• Increasing international support for national efforts to adopt standards and labeling for energy-efficient appliances and consumer equipments, as well as harmonization of international testing methods.
• Calling on International Financial Institutions and other relevant agencies to support, developing countries in their own efforts for: renewable energy, energy efficiency, advanced energy technologies, including advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies.
• Promoting investment and partnerships for the development of sustainable, energy efficient multi-modal transportation systems aiming at providing safe affordable and efficient transportation.
• Enhancing the cooperation in the implementation of relevant General Assembly resolutions, relating to energy for sustainable development.
• Encouraging public-private partnerships for promoting affordable, energy efficient and advanced fossil fuel and renewable energy technologies.
• Promoting networking between centers of excellence on energy for sustainable development, by linking competent centers on energy technologies that could support efforts at capacity building and technology transfer activities.

Mr. Chairman,

Implementation remains the biggest challenge for development. Unfortunately, our declarations and commitments have not translated into local action on the ground.

It is our hope that discussions during IPM and outcome of CSD-15 will lead to the implementation of policy options on Energy for Sustainable Development. We are willing to approach the forthcoming CSD with a view to find sustainable solutions to the development challenges that we continue to face.

I thank you.