Background
ESCAP at its 73rd Commission Session in May 2017 adopted Resolution 73/8 Strengthening regional cooperation for sustainable energy development in Asia and the Pacific which requested the secretariat to conduct analytical studies, compile and disseminate relevant energy information and data. The Commission also established two expert working groups under Committee on Energy;
- Expert Working Group on Energy Connectivity and
- Expert Working Group on Universal Access to Modern Energy Services, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Use of Fossil Fuels
The Second Asian and Pacific Energy Forum, which was held in Bangkok from 3 to 5 April 2018, adopted the Ministerial Declaration on Regional Cooperation for Energy Transition towards Sustainable and Resilient Societies in Asia and the Pacific. The Ministerial Declaration contains decisions by the ministers as well as requests to the Executive Secretary to support its implementation through specific actions, including through the work of the Expert Working Groups on Energy Connectivity and on Universal Access to Modern Energy Services, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Use of Fossil Fuels;
Objective of these Working Groups is to provide expert input to the intergovernmental discussions at the Committee on Energy and the Asia Pacific Energy Forum. The Working Groups will also review existing knowledge, information and policy research and closely coordinate with relevant international, regional and sub-regional organizations.
Meetings of Expert Working Group on Universal Access to Modern Energy Services, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Use of Fossil Fuels
The Expert Working Group (EWG) on SDG7 was established at the meeting, organized on 14 December 2017 in Bangkok.
Experts from each country shared experiences on major challenges and opportunities to address the issues. The experts highlighted the progress made on electricity access but there is a need to improve access to clean cooking. This required supports from all stakeholders as well as addressing the scarcity of data to identified of economically viable areas for electrification projects, such as off-grid which is particularly suitable for reaching remote locations. More information of the meeting and Chair’s summary can be found here.
A meeting of Expert Working Group on SDG7 was organized in October 2019 as series of sessions during the 10th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, 7-8 October in Bangkok. The sessions’ results were aimed to serve on technical preparation for the Second Session of the Committee on Energy, 9-11 October 2019.
- Workshop on The Role of Natural Gas in Achieving SDG7 and the Paris Agreement
- Clean Cooking: Evidence and Innovations for Filling the Gap
- Electricity Access for Social Change
Towards the High-level Dialogue on Energy 2021 under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly:
Fifth Meeting of the Expert Working Group on Universal Access to Modern Energy Services, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Use of Fossil Fuels (5th EWG-SDG7, 26 August 2021)
EWG meeting was held to cover the following:
- Introduced the High-Level Dialogue on Energy and share perspectives from the Ministerial Thematic Forums.
- Updated EWG members on the key outcomes of the thematic working groups.
- Discussed Energy Compacts and the importance of specific voluntary commitments through 2030.
Sixth Expert Working Group on Universal Access to Modern Energy Services, Renewable Energy,
Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Use of Fossil Fuels
Seventh Meeting of the Expert Working Group on Universal Access to Modern Energy Services, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Use of Fossil Fuels (7th EWG-SDG7, 13 December 2022)
ESCAP organized the meeting to:
1) Update the progress of ESCAP's support in developing national SDG 7 Roadmaps and opportunities for further support.
2) Update supports on development of National Cooling Action Plans for Asia-Pacific countries
The meeting is aimed to discuss on the latest developments in the principal technologies that can underpin the energy transition – solar, wind, hydro, energy efficiency, natural gas and nuclear; discuss the roles of these technologies in achieving SDG 7 and the energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region; and identify opportunities for regional cooperation to support the deployment of these technologies and to mitigate any negative impacts.
Scope of Work
- Examine issues related to national, subregional and regional policy Frameworks and identify specific economic, institutional and regulatory measures in order to facilitate the region’s transition to a more sustainable energy future;
- Prepare comprehensive regional studies on the current state of and future prospects for selected areas of work with a view to identifying issues and challenges that could be addressed through regional cooperation;
- Explore opportunities to enhance cooperation with other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the business community and private sector by preparing joint studies and participating in joint events, such as surveys, seminars and workshops;
- Provide the secretariat with advice in the implementation of the subprogramme on energy, including the formulation and implementation of capacity-building and technical cooperation in the region;
- Examine and discuss any other issue recommended to them by the secretariat or requested by the Committee.
Work Plan
- The initial focus of the EWG on SDG7 could be to review the progress on achieving SDG7 and identify challenges, lessons learnt and propose policies and technologies to create pathways to close the gaps.
- To support this effort, the EWG could solicit background studies from partner organizations. These studies would be reviewed by the EWG and would function as input for its discussions..