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

18-21 May 2015 | UN Headquarters, New York


Highlights for Thursday, 21 May 2015

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Daily Web Coverage — About | 18 May | 19 May | 20 May | 21 May | Summary
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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 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.

IISD Reporting Services provided daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary report from the Second Annual Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Forum - “Financing Sustainable Energy for All”.


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.

Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

Gyan Acharya, Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

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

High-Level Panel on the Future of Energy: A Global Agenda

This panel discussed actionable paths towards a planet with sustainable energy for all, addressing, in particular, the role of fossil fuels in the global energy mix.

Moderator Andrew Revkin, New York Times

Brian Dames, CEO, African Rainbow Energy and Power

Ceri Powell, Executive Vice-President of World Wide Exploration, Royal Dutch Shell

David McCauley, Senior Vice-President, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) US


Participants watched a video on energy in Africa.

Leadership Action and Commitments to Sustainable Energy For All

Moderator Elizabeth Thompson, Senior Advisor, SE4All

Akon, Hip Hop Artist and Co-founder, Akon Lighting Africa

Thione Niang, Co-founder Akon Lighting, Africa

Samba Bathily, Co-founder Akon Lighting, Africa


Akon, Hip Hop Artist and Co-Founder, Akon Lighting Africa, with fans outside the UN General Assembly.

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


High-Level Action Statements

Waysang Moti Kumkee, Minister for Public Works and Utilities, Kiribati

Boubacar Ba, Minister of Mines and Energy, Burkina Faso

Darcy Boyce, Minister of Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados

Henri Ossebi, Minister of Energy and Hydraulics, Republic of Congo

Joaquim Ventura, Secretary of State for Energy, Angola

Akim Bedelov, Minister/Chairman, Renewable and Alternative Energy Agency, Azerbaijan

Ith Praing, Secretary of State of Mines and Energy, Cambodia

Hussain Niyaaz, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maldives


Special Panel on Monitoring, Tracking and Accountability

Panelists discussed ways in which data and measurements can play a role in achieving the SE4All goals, considering recent successes as well as gaps in the existing frameworks.


Peter Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the UN

Vivien Foster, World Bank

Maria Theresa Lauron, Chair, CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness


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

Participants watched a video on the Global High School Prize – Zayed Future Energy Prize Awards.

Dikirani Thaulo, Zayed Solar Academy, Malawi

Ruby Wynn-Williams, Melbourne Girls College


Leadership Action And Commitments To Sustainable Energy For All

L-R: Jorge Miguel Samek, Director-General, Itaipu Brazil; James Spalding Hellmers, Director-General, Paraguay Itaipu; and Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All


Multi-Stakeholder Action, Commitment and Achievement Statements

Representatives from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Statoil, ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the International Copper Association addressed participants.

Hege Marie Norheim, Statoil

Elizabeth Press, IRENA

Stakeholders from the private sector, civil society and international organizations reported on their plans to further progress of the SE4All objectives, discussing, inter alia: interlinkages with the Post-2015 Development Agenda and climate change; and initiatives promoting gender equality.


Your ENB+ team. L-R: Diego Noguera, Colombia; Diana Movius, US; Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D., Russia/Netherlands; Gillian Nelson, Ph.D., United Kingdom; and Wangu Mwangi, Kenya/Netherlands.

Daily Web Coverage — About | 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