January 10, 2025 02:27 pm (IST)

Make this your homepage

Foreign

Los Angeles wildfire toll climbs to 10, thousands of structures destroyed | 8 labourers still trapped in Assam's flooded mine even after 3 days of rescue ops | SC refuses to hear petitions seeking review of its same-sex marriage judgement, says there is 'no error' | 'They should wind up the alliance': Omar Abdullah on AAP-Congress fight over Delhi elections | Pune woman killed by her colleague in full public view for not paying back his money, no one intervenes | Los Angeles wildfire leaves 5 dead, forces 1 lakh including celebs to flee, Hollywood hills ablazed | PM Modi condoles death of six people in Tirupati stampede incident | Days after condemning Pak airstrikes, India in a first engages with Afghanistan's Taliban regime | 6 dead in stampede near Tirupati temple during token distribution to offer prayers | Prominent journalist-film producer Pritish Nandy dies of cardiac arrest at 73

Asia-Pacific: UN launches Sustainable Energy for All Decade, regional hub

India Blooms News Service | | Jun 19, 2014, at 10:05 pm

#Asia-Pacific

New York, June 19 (IBNS) With an estimated 628 million people in Asia- and the Pacific lacking access to electricity and more than 1.8 billion using natural fuels, the United Nation office in the region launched Wednesday the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), underscoring the importance of clean forms of electricity in the post-2015 developing agenda.

The goals of the 2014-2024 UN Decade, launched two weeks ago, echo the priorities set out by UN Secretary’s General Ban Ki-moon in his eponymous 2011initiative to reach universal access to energy services and double the amount of renewable energy available by 2030.

The UN Decade was launched regionally today in Manila, Philippines. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also launched a Regional Hub to tackle energy issues at the country level.

“ESCAP is pleased to be part of the collaboration among the three agencies in establishing the SE4ALL Regional Hub,” said Shun-ichi Murata, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP during his opening remarks.

“The Regional Hub will leverage the existing structures of ESCAP, UNDP and ADB energy programs and integrate the strengths of all three development partners to support the achievement of the SE4ALL goals in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr. Murata explained.

Accessing forms of clean energy resources is seen as key factor in improving the environment and in making a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of citizens. New ‘eco-friendly’ activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollution could drastically improve the living conditions of existing and future generations.

“Our partnership underscores the strong belief that everywhere in the world, people need access to reliable, affordable and clean energy services to ensure they thrive economically and be able to manage their lives” said Kandeh K. Yumkella, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and CEO of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, suggesting also how the Regional Hub would allow positive changes in the clean-energy landscape.

The SE4ALL Hub aims to bolster information sharing, forging partnerships and providing a platform for cooperation around specific action areas.

In particular, “Universal access to modern energy means providing energy for schools, health clinics, small business and other productive services that improve lives” Manager of the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, Caitlin Wiesen said today. She added “This new hub will be an important resource for countries looking for clean energy solutions that serve the poor.”

Since its launch in 2011, the Suitable Energy for All initiative seems to have been successful in obtaining a consistent support worldwide. More than 75 countries have joined this network to ultimately support clean and sustainable energy.

Village shop at dusk in Sri Lanka lit by solar panels. Photo: World Bank/Dominic Sansoni

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.