See more coverage of this event on the main IISD ENB website

We have launched a new website to better share our reports of global environmental negotiations.

As well as current coverage of new negotiations, you can find our original reports from this event by clicking here.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus

Second Annual Sustainable Energy for All Forum - “Financing Sustainable Energy for All”

18-21 May 2015 | UN Headquarters, New York


Summary Highlights of the SE4All Forum

Download ENB+ Meeting Report

Reports:
18 May
19 May
20 May
Summary

Receive our ENB+ bulletins and reports by email:

Photo Usage Information
Sustainable Development Policy & Practice
Loading...

Receive emailed updates with the news articles above plus related information and announcements from our SDG community mailing list:

Daily Web CoverageAbout | 18 May | 19 May | 20 May | 21 May | Summary
.

During the closing session, Kandeh Yumkella highlighted some SE4All achievements since its launch in 2011 and invited all delegates interested in contributing to the global movement to join him on the podium to signal their commitment to ending energy poverty.

.

On Wednesday morning, the first-ever SE4All Global Ministerial Policy Dialogue convened at the UN General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters, in New York.


Highlights for Thursday, 21 May 2015

On the final day of the SE4All Forum, the Global Energy Ministerial Dialogue reconvened on the theme ‘Future of Energy: Leadership Actions and Commitments.’ After opening statements by Gyan Acharya, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All, and Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, a high-level panel on ‘The Future of Energy: A Global Agenda’ took place.

In a session moderated by Elizabeth Thompson, Senior Advisor, SE4All, that continued for most of the day, more than 80 high-level representatives from energy ministries, business, civil society, multilateral agencies and international organizations outlined their leadership and action commitments aimed at achieving the SE4All objectives. Akon, singer and co-founder of Akon Lighting Africa, made a special appearance, calling for more focused action to address energy challenges in Africa.

In the closing plenary session, Kandeh Yumkella told delegates that in responding to calls to make this year’s Forum more inclusive and participatory, “we have done have done our best to make sure that all your voices were heard.” He invited all interested delegates to join him on the podium to indicate their commitment to ending energy poverty.

+ Download the summary report of the Second Annual Sustainable Energy for All Forum - “Financing Sustainable Energy for All”, in HTML or in PDF format.

+ Visit the web coverage for Thursday, 21 May 2015


Welcome and Opening Session

Opening Day 4 of the Second SE4All Forum, Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, SE4All, Wu
Hongbo
, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Gyan Acharya, UN Under-Secretary-General,
High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS urged for actions and commitments on the SE4All goals.

Dikirani Thaulo, Zayed Solar Academy, Malawi, addressed the role of education in ensuring energy access
in rural areas, using the example of solar energy.


Joint Commitments and Cooperation Leadership Statements

Elizabeth Thompson (top), Senior Advisor, SE4All; Irene Muloni (middle), Minister for Energy and Minerals, Uganda;
Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development; and Henry Macauley,
Minister of Energy, Sierra Leone


Global High School Prize – Zayed Future Energy Prize Awards

Nawal Al-Hoseny, Masdar, Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and Kandeh Yumkella presented the Global High School Prize of the Zayed Future Energy Prize to Bronx Design and Construction Academy, Melbourne Girls College and Nkhata Bay School Authority.

Nawal Al-Hosany, Masdar and the Zayed Future Energy Prize

Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth


Highlights for Wednesday, 20 May 2015

On the third day of the SE4All Forum, delegates convened in the first-ever Global Energy Ministerial Dialogue, taking place from 20-21 May at the UN General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters in New York. The main objective of the policy dialogue is to reaffirm the Rio+20 determination “to act to make sustainable energy for all a reality.”

Following the opening plenary in the morning, delegates convened in a high-level panel on ‘Catalyzing a Trillion Dollar Investment.’ Three high-level panels then followed to discuss how to accelerate the three SE4All 2030 goals of ensuring universal energy access, doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. In the afternoon, following a dialogue on energy, women and children’s health, two high-level panels took place under the overall theme of ‘Strengthening Global Energy Cooperation on Energy.’

Side events held during the day included a high-level leadership luncheon hosted by the European Commission and a high-level event on financing sustainable energy for least developed countries convened by the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).

+ Download the daily report for Wednesday, 20 May 2015, in HTML or in PDF format.

+ Visit the web coverage for Wednesday, 20 May 2015


Opening Plenary

Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary-General

Kaha Imnadze, acting President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), on behalf of Sam Kahamba Kutesa, UNGA President


Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All, announced that, following his retirement from the UN in July, he will continue this work in his home country, Sierra Leone.

Jan Eliasson (left), UN Deputy Secretary-General, thanked Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All, for his contribution to furthering the SE4All goals.


High-Level Panel on Catalyzing a Trillion Dollar Investment

At this panel, moderated by Ali Velshi, Al Jazeera America, panelists discussed how to overcome
infrastructural and finance barriers in order to attain the SE4All 2030 goals.


High-Level Leadership Luncheon, hosted by the European Commission

Akon, Hip Hop Artist and Co-Founder, Akon Lighting Africa, addressing participants.

At the close of the session, Kandeh Yumkalla posed a series of questions to participants,
relating to a possible options for continuing international work on the SE4All agenda.


Highlights for Tuesday, 19 May 2015

On Tuesday 19 May, participants convened in plenary and in parallel multi-stakeholder dialogues organized under thematic tracks on finance, access, energy efficiency, renewable energy, global policy agenda and growing the movement. Several major initiatives and reviews of SE4All global targets were presented during the day, including: a European initiative to boost electrification, known as ElectriFI, that aims to catalyse private sector investments; a new methodology on short-lived climate pollutants; a Pew Charitable Trusts report analyzing clean energy investment, finance and deployment trends in emerging markets; the 2015 edition of IRENA’s ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review’; and REN21’s Renewables Global Status Report.

Progress under the three SE4All objectives of access, energy efficiency and renewable energy was addressed in sessions covering, among other topics: the SE4All High Impact Opportunity (HIO) areas on on Clean Energy Mini-Grids, the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Bionergy; the SE4All Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, a public-private partnership programme to scale up energy efficiency policy, action and investment; the energy efficiency and cities initiatives; the 1 Gigaton Coalition on promoting emission’s savings from renewable energy and energy efficiency; a World Bank-led initiative to reduce global gas flaring by 2030; innovative financing for clean cooking solutions; and energy access in conflict settings; and integrating action on climate mitigation and energy access.

During the Masdar-hosted high-level luncheon on SE4All with the Advisory Board and Ministers, dignitaries discussed acceleration of innovative solutions on SE4All.

+ Download the daily report for Tuesday, 19 May 2015, in HTML or in PDF format.

+ Visit the web coverage for Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Members of the Advisory Board


Opening Plenary: Doubling the Global Rate of Improvement in Energy Efficiency

This session discussed several multi-stakeholder initiatives that aim to contribute towards the SE4All goal of doubling of the
global rate of improvements in energy efficiency by 2030. L-R: Clay Nesler, Vice-President, Corporate Sustainability, Johnson
Controls; Harry Verhaar, Head of Global Public and Government Affairs, Philips Lighting; Bruno Berthon, Vice-President,
Sustainability, Accenture; John Lee, Deputy Director, Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency, New York City Mayor’s Office of Long
Term Planning and Sustainability; and Sheila Watson, Executive Secretary, FIA Foundation.


Communicating Renewable Energy - IRENA Coalition for Action and IRENA’s Project Facilitation Platform – a Virtual Market Place to Enhance Project Development and Financing in Africa

Members of the IRENA Coalition for Action discussed strategies to improve communication of the benefits of renewable energy.
The session also showcased the new IRENA virtual market place for renewable energy projects in Africa.


Launch of the Electrification Financing Initiative, ElectriFI

The EU’s Electrification Financing Initiative, ElectriFI, is launched in front of a standing-room-only audience.


Masdar-hosted High-Level Luncheon on SE4All with Advisory Board and Ministers

At this Masdar-sponsored event, participants discussed acceleration of innovative solutions on clean, safe and sustainable energy across the world.

L-R: Rachel Kyte, Vice-President and Special Envoy For Climate Change, World Bank; Nawal Al-Hosany, Masdar;
Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary-General; Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Coal, Power and New and
Renewable Energy, India; Isabella Lövin, Minister of International Development Cooperation, Sweden;
Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All;
and José Manuel Entrecanales, CEO, Acciona


Highlights for Monday, 18 May 2015

The second Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Forum opened on Monday, 18 May 2015, at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in New York. Discussions took place in several plenary sessions as well as eight dialogue sessions that convened in parallel throughout the day. The dialogue sessions were structured around the following thematic tracks: finance; access; country action; innovation for impact; global policy agenda; and growing the movement. Several reports on global progress in attaining SE4All targets were presented during the day, including: the World Bank’s Readiness for Investment in Sustainable Energy (RISE) support tool; the Global Tracking Framework 2015; and the Energy for Women’s and Children’s Health Impact Report. A high-level roundtable on mobilizing finance for SE4All in Africa took place in the afternoon. The day closed with video addresses by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.

+ Download the daily report for Monday, 18 May 2015, in HTML or in PDF format.

+ Visit the web coverage for Monday, 18 May 2015

Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All


Opening Plenary: Financing Sustainable Energy For All

Participants during the opening plenary


Energy for Productive Uses

L-R: Jiwan Acharya, Asian Development Bank; Soma Dutta, ENERGIA; Peter Alstone, University of California; Aaron Leopold, Practical Action; and H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma, CEO, ABZESOLAR S.A.


SE4All Capacity-Building Hub

Participants and speakers engaged in a discussion at the end of the dialogue


SE4All Country Action in Latin America and the Caribbean

René Castro-Salazar, CO2nsorcio Euroamericano, Costa Rica, addressing participants

Daily Web CoverageAbout | 18 May | 19 May | 20 May | 21 May | Summary
Funding for coverage of the Second Annual Sustainable Energy for All Forum “Financing Sustainable Energy for All”, has been provided by the SE4All Forum, The World Bank, and Mr. Serge Martin,
Special Advisor to the UN Foundation on Sustainable Energy for All
Sustainable Energy for All The World Bank