Energy for Sustainable Development

Energy services include lighting, cooking, heating and cooling, water pumping, refrigeration, transportation and communications. These can all be provided through both conventional, fossil fuel-based energy systems and those fuelled by renewable sources of energy.
Aligning the global energy system with the principles of sustainable development will require major changes in the way energy is currently delivered and used -including provision of relevant and current information, changes in policy, technology innovation and new investment.

Current activities

Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD)
The GNESD is a collaboration of more than 20 centres of excellence in both developing and industrialised countries noted for their outstanding work on energy, development, and environmental issues. The network promotes the research, transfer and take-up of green and cleaner energy technologies in the developing world.

Past activities

Contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
The International Energy Agency, Eskom and UNEP hosted a day-long event on 'Energy for Sustainable Development'. It focused on energy security, energy access and the environmental performance of energy systems. It further featured a session on partnerships that served to launch the Global Network of Energy for Sustainable Development. The agenda of the event is available for download.

Sustainable Energy Advisory Facility (SEAF)
The SEAF was a pilot initiative to provide selected developing countries with information and technical support on sustainable energy alternatives. In addition, SEAF assisted partner organisations to prepare for the 9th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.