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High-Level Event “Implementing Sustainable Energy for All” and High-Level Luncheon on the SE4ALL Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform

22 September 2014 | New York, United States of America

The High-Level Event “Implementing Sustainable Energy for All” and the Launch of the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform took place on 22 September 2014 in New York, US. Organized by the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, the two events preceded the UN Climate Summit 2014 that takes place on 23 September 2014, also in New York, US.

The High-Level Event “Implementing Sustainable Energy for All” featured high-level multi-stakeholder panels on financing SE4ALL, investing in energy efficiency, accelerating innovation in renewable energy, and scaling up at the country level.

The High-Level Luncheon on the SE4ALL Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform convened at the Millennium Plaza Hotel. The luncheon marked the launch of the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, and recognized the countries, cities, companies, international organizations, and civil society partners participating in this initiative.

A press conference was also held on “Mobilizing Finance to Halve Energy Poverty” during which a cooperation agreement was signed between SE4ALL and Power Africa, US.

View of New York City

High-Level Event “Implementing Sustainable Energy for All”

On the eve of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Climate Summit, the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative convened a High-Level Event on “Implementing Sustainable Energy for All.” The event was held with SE4ALL with partners at UN Headquarters to discuss financing sustainable energy, investing in energy efficiency, accelerating innovation in renewables and scaling up at country-level.

The SE4ALL initiative has three inter-linked objectives to be achieved by 2030: ensure universal access to modern energy services; double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The event previewed new commitments to catalyze investment to provide hundreds of millions of people with access to sustainable energy services.

Cooperation among SE4ALL, the European Union and US Power Africa towards reducing by half the 1.3 billion “energy poor” people in the world was cited as a significant milestone towards achieving universal energy access by 2030. A plan was also outlined to raise US$120 billion in investments to contribute to halving energy poverty and promoting sustainable energy solutions. The European Union has pledged an initial funding of €3 billion to leverage between €15 billion and €30 billion to address energy poverty.

Welcoming participants to the high-level event, Kandeh Yumkella, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and CEO, SE4ALL, declared that the world has been convinced that energy is central to sustainable development, with the drafting of a Sustainable Development Goal on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. He welcomed commitments by the EU, Germany, US, China and India that will contribute to the reduction of energy poverty.

Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), noted that the UN Secretary-General had declared 2014-2024 as the UN Decade for Sustainable Energy for All, thus triggering support for projects. He said renewable energy and innovative efficient energy systems stand at the center of a global shift towards a green economy, poverty eradication and sustainable development. Claver Gatete, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda, underlined the importance of regional cooperation in East Africa.

Participants then considered: financing for sustainable energy; investing in energy efficiency; accelerating innovation in renewable energy; and scaling up at country level. These sessions are summarized below.

Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, provided opening remarks

Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General and CEO, SE4ALL, welcomed participants to the high-level event

Claver Gatete, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda, addressed participants

Kandeh Yumkella (right), Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General and CEO, SE4ALL, prior to the meeting

Participants during the high-level event

FINANCING SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL

Mohinder Gulati, Chief Operating Officer, SE4ALL, outlined the work of the initiative’s finance committee, including feedback on issues such as the affordability of energy tariffs, the role of utilities, micro grid operator creditworthiness, and policy reforms required to attract investment. The committee identified additional annual investment requirements up to 2030 of: US$45 billion for energy access; US$320 for renewables; and US$390 billion for energy efficiency.

Richard MacGeorge, World Bank, noted that in many developing countries, local banks and domestic capital markets lack the necessary capacity to meet required investment needs. He identified possible ways to close a US$120 billion annual funding gap, such as the use of green bonds, development finance institutions for co-lending and private finance, and blended funding approaches.

Abyd Karmali, Merill Lynch, called for a project development fund to engage on activities such as scoping and preparatory work, metrics to track its progress, and experience sharing between public utilities. He called for UNEP’s Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System to explore potential barriers posed by Basel III and Solvency II regulations.

Richard MacGeorge, Lead Infrastructure Finance Specialist, World Bank, identified possible ways to close a US$120 billion annual funding gap, such as the use of green bonds.

Purna Saggurti, Chairman, Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Bank of America, moderated the session

Abyd Karmal, Managing Director and Global Head of Carbon Markets, Bank of America

Mohinder Gulati, COO, SE4ALL, introduced the Finance Committee Report

L-R: Gabriek Visconti, Deputy Managing Director, Environmental Division, Brazilian National Development Bank; Fatima Hamdouch, Head of Strategic Planning, Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy; Michael Liebreich, Bloomberg New Energy Finance; Josué Tanaka, Managing Director, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Michael Eckhart, Managing Director and Global Head of Environmental Finance and Sustainability, Citigroup; Anita George, Senior Director, Energy and Extractives, World Bank; Gyan Acharya, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; and Robert F. Ichord, Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources

INVESTING IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

This session was moderated by Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director. Reid Detchon, UN Foundation, described how the SE4ALL Global Accelerator Platform would assist leaders to step forward and support enabling environments. Ignacio, Santelices, Director, Energy Efficiency Division, Ministry of Energy, Chile, described a programme to teach bankers about energy efficiency.

Sheila Watson, FIA Foundation, focused on the role of fuel efficiency in tackling the likely impact of a tripling of the global car fleet. Leena Srivastava, TERI University, India, addressed the challenge of working with a disorganized small and medium enterprises sector and the impact on research and development spending. Lars Tveen, District Energy Division, Danfoss, outlined the energy efficiency potential of district heating.

Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls, described how much of the “low hanging fruit” in terms of energy efficiency savings is in buildings. Steven Kukoda, International Copper Association, outlined efforts to promote more efficient lighting.

During a discussion, participants addressed standard setting and its limitations if institutional settings are not taken into account. Steiner highlighted the need for a blend of public policy and market solutions, noting that markets are not always “smart.”

A view of the dais during the panel discussion on investing in energy efficiency

L-R: Sheila Watson, Director of Environment, FIA Foundation, Ignacio Santelices, Director, Energy Efficiency Division, Ministry of Energy, Chile, Leena Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, TERI University, India, and Reid Detchon, Vice President for Energy and Climate, UN Foundation

Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), moderated the session on investing in energy efficiency.

ACCELERATING INNOVATION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

This session was moderated by Adnan Amin, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). He described a target to double the use of renewables by 2030 and noted that the major part of new capacity in power generation is based on renewables. David King, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK, outlined a US$10 billion annual Global Apollo Programme proposal that aims, by 2020, to ensure that renewable energy installation is cheaper throughout the world by 2025.

Ingrid Hoven, Ministry for Economic Cooperation, Germany, described how her country has shifted the narrative around affordable renewables for a better future. Jose Manuel, ACCIONA, supported a carbon pricing mechanism. Franceso Starace, ENEL, described how technology’s stable patterns and trajectories become engrained in people’s lives, as an evolutionary pattern of the human race that can only be steered.

A view of the dais during the panel discussion. L-R: José Manuel Entrecanales, Chairman, ACCIONA; Sir David King, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK; Session Moderator Adnan Amin, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Ingrid Hoven, Deputy Director-General, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany; and Francesco Starace, CEO and General Manager, ENEL.

L-R: Ingrid Hoven, Germany, and Francesco Starace, ENEL

L-R: Sir David King, UK, and Moderator Adnan Amin, IRENA

SCALING UP AT THE COUNTRY-LEVEL

On scaling up at country level, special guest speaker from the music group, Linkin Park, Mike Shinoda, recalled meeting the UN Secretary General during a US$6 million fundraising effort with Music for Relief. He recalled his shock at the fact that 1.3 billion people lack access to energy and called on the SE4ALL participants to exceed the expectations of those who may be cynical, to inspire and avoid trying to scare people by honoring their trust and attention in much the same way that musicians honor their fans.

Patrick Sendola, Minister of Lands, Mines, and Energy, Liberia, noted the impact of the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus on energy infrastructure development. Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa and Trade Africa, US Agency for International Development, recalled US President Barack Obama’s commitment to support an additional 60 million energy connections in partnership with the private sector.

Hans Brattskar, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, said the greatest challenge is to translate targets into country-level actions. On behalf of Norway’s International Energy and Climate Initiative, he invited partners to report on emission reductions derived from work on sustainable energy for all in developing countries.

Elizabeth Thompson, Barbados, said the issue for Small Island Developing states (SIDS) comes down to resources, roadmaps and risk mitigation. Andris Piebaigs, Commissioner for Development, European Union, underlined the needs of rural communities.

CLOSING SESSION

Closing the meeting, Chair Yumkella declared that a new narrative on energy had been constructed. He invited Annick Girardin, Secretary of State for Development, France, to convene an optimistic message to the President of France, Francois Hollande, ahead of UNFCCC COP21 in 2015.

A view of the dais during the panel. L-R: Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development; Patrick Sendolo, Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Liberia; Kandeh Yumkella, SE4ALL; Hans Brattskar, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway; Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa and Trade Africa, US; and Elizabeth Thompson, Former Minister for Energy and Environment, Barbados, and Senior Advisor, SE4ALL

L-R: Chester Charles Bennington and Michael Kenji Shinoda, Linkin Park

Michael Kenji Shinoda, Linkin Park

Press Conference: Mobilizing Finance to Halve Energy Poverty

A view of the dais during the press conference. L-R: Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General and CEO, SE4ALL; Chad Holliday, Chairman, Bank of America; Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa and Trade Africa, United States; and Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development.

Chad Holliday, Chairman, Bank of America

Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development

L-R: Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General and CEO, SE4ALL, and Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa and Trade Africa, US Agency for International Development, sign a cooperation agreement between Power Africa and SE4ALL.

L-R: Kandeh Yumkella and Andrew Herscowitz

High-Level Luncheon on the SE4ALL Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform

This event saw the official launch of the Sustainable Energy for All Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform. Kandeh Yumkella, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and CEO, SE4ALL, opened the event noting that the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, which aims to improve global energy efficiency, is driven by the private sector.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said discussions on the sustainable energy agenda are shifting focus from what cannot be done to “regaining a sense of how we can shape the future.” He lauded the Platform as an “extraordinary alliance” to accelerate action. Chad Holliday, Chairman, Bank of America, outlined the opportunities presented by energy efficiency, stressing that energy efficiency is “the biggest source and opportunity” for renewable energy.

Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Europe, stressed that regional economic commissions can provide norms, regulations and standards for energy efficiency. He added that these would then need to be translated into national legislation. Carina Larsfälten, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Managing Director for Global Policy Affairs, outlined the synergies between the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform and the initiatives under the WBCSD, such as the energy efficiency in buildings 2.0 initiative.

Dorjee Kinlay, Mayor of Thimphu, Bhutan, stated that his administration places a strong emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, highlighting that they have for instance, made progress in sustainable street lighting and encouraging the use of electric cars. Howard Matthew, Sustainability Director, Milwaukee, outlined some of Milwaukee’s energy efficiency goals, noting that for example, the city is striving for a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020.

Ambassador Masahiko Horie, Japan, lauded the efforts of the City of Toyama, saying that it has been recognized as a future city for its approach to sustainable development, and has also been called a compact city by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He noted the invitation by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan to convene a meeting to, inter alia, exchange lessons learned.

Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary, Energy Commission, Ghana, stated that his country included energy efficiency as part of national legislation in 2007, explaining that one of the initial projects was to replace incandescent lightbulbs with more efficient lightbulbs. Ignacio Santelices, Director, Energy Efficiency, Chile, said his country is striving to improve energy efficiency as part of efforts to decrease reliance on fossil fuels.

Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Mayor of Warsaw, Poland, said that due to geopolitical issues affecting their energy security, energy efficiency has become a priority. Ismail Ibrahim, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, highlighted the importance of partnerships to improve energy efficiency, saying that his organization has been partnering with the UN system to ensure sustainable development of the region without compromising growth.

Henriette Ellermann-Kingombe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark, outlined the importance of the energy efficiency hub in Copenhagen for coordinating efforts to improve energy efficiency. John Christensen, UNEP, called for moving discussions towards commitment and action. Lars Tveen, President, Danfuss District Energy, said there is a willingness to engage on energy efficiency, underlining that there is minimal cost impact if it is done properly.

Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls, called for faster progress, highlighting his company’s willingness to engage on this. Lena Srivastava, Vice-Chancellor, TERI University, called for concerted efforts to bring together multiple actors to discuss multiple issues so that they can be addressed in a more systemic manner.