Affordable and Clean Energy

Well-informed energy policy design is key to reaching decarbonization targets and keep global climate change under a 2°C threshold. In particular, low-carbon electricity provision for all is essential, as the IPCC shows that the most ambitious climate mitigation scenarios entail the electrification of most of our economy. Therefore, understanding the full scale of potential impacts from current and future electricity generation is required, in order to avoid “impact leakage”, i.e., increasing non-climate environmental pressure while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Life cycle assessment allows the evaluation of a product over its life cycle, and across a wide range of environmental indicators – this method was chosen to report on the environmental profiles of various technologies. Candidate technologies assessed include coal, natural gas, hydropower, nuclear power, concentrated solar power (CSP), photovoltaics, and wind power. Twelve global regions included in the assessment, allowing to vary load factors, methane leakage rates, or background grid electricity consumption, among other factors. With no exception, every electricity generation technology generates environmental impacts over its life cycle; and these impacts may vary widely with implementation site and other design choices. Proper energy policy should consider site-specificity by conducting lifecycle assessments that consider local conditions and potential prospective changes.

The multifaceted requirements of sustainable development depend on optimal and responsible production and use of natural resources. The United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) provides the framework for integrated and sustainable management of natural resources to promote good social, environmental and economic outcomes in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNRMS is based on the United Nations Framework Classification of Resources (UNFC) and provides a sustainable transition pathway for producing, using and reusing natural resources to become engines of sustainable development.

Cette quatrième édition révisée de la publication, le «Livre bleu», demeure une source d’information précise sur le Forum mondial de l’harmonisation des Règlements concernant les véhicules (WP.29) dont la Division des transports durables de la CEE assure le secrétariat, notamment sur son origine et son historique, son cadre administratif et juridique et son fonctionnement (il est assorti d’un guide de l’utilisateur), ainsi que sur les trois Accords internationaux conclus sous les auspices de l’Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU) qui sont administrés par le WP.29. Note: La quatrième édition de ce "Livre bleu" a été publié en 2019.

This publication is the statistical supplement to the official statement by the Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry about the current and next year's forest products markets. The tables in the publication show detailed forest products production and trade forecasts by country for 2021 and 2022. The tables are generated based on official submission by more than 30 member States from Europe, North America and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The tables presented cover roundwood (logs, pulpwood and fuel wood), sawnwood (coniferous and non-coniferous), wood-based panels (plywood, particle board, OSB and fibreboard), pulp, paper and wood pellets. The Committee also collects data on over 30 individual products for many countries in the UNECE region.

There are several pathways through which energy systems are transitioning to a decarbonized, sustainable economy. The development and implementation of these technologies are being driven by innovation in a wide variety of technologies. Now that most economies are emerging, governments are focused on driving a sustainable socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is an endemic issue which must be addressed. The energy sector is missing out on the experiences, skills, and talents of much of half the human population, which severely constrains the sustainable energy transition. In addition to a larger skilled workforce, there are several advantages in bridging the gender gap within the energy sector. Gender disparities in the energy sector have been observed around the world. Women are less represented in policymaking, corporate leadership and governance, as entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and in the labour workforce. These barriers are surmountable using a two-way complementary approach, which is simultaneously bottom-up - action by women and society to bridge the gap of gender inequality in the energy sector – and top-down – government and policymakers need to develop policy tools to encourage women’s participation in the energy sector. This paper is summarising key findings from a report and empirical case studies of five United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) member States: Albania, Belarus, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.

Energy access is defined in many ways, but most definitions include having reliable and affordable access to both cooking facilities and electricity that can be scaled up over time. Access to reliable and quality energy supply is vital to the economic development of any country. The aim of this report is to provide information on the state of energy access in Sub-Sahara Africa and to identify policies that may contribute to enhancing access to modern energy services in Sub-Sahara Africa while moving towards a successful transition to zero emission fuels in a bid to align with global efforts to climate change mitigation.

This revised fourth edition of the publication, the so-called Blue Book, continues providing precise and updated information on the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) serviced by the UNECE Sustainable Transport Division: on its historical background, its administrative and legal framework with a user's guide, and the three international UN Agreements administered by the World Forum. Note: The fourth edition of the Blue Book had been published in 2019.

Grâce à de nouvelles estimations élaborées par la CNUCED, ce rapport montre que l'extrême pauvreté augmente dans les 49 pays les moins avancés (PMA). Il établit une corrélation entre la dépendance des matières premières et l'évolution de la pauvreté; et montre que l'interaction des finances et du commerce international renforce l'engrenage de la pauvreté.Une analyse inédite de la relation entre la hausse de la consommation privée et la diminution de l'extrême pauvreté permet à la CNUCED d'affirmer que les possibilités de réduire la pauvreté sont bien plus grandes que ce que l'on imagine. Doubler le revenu moyen des ménages, grâce à une croissance soutenue, permettrait de ramener la proportion de personnes d'un pays vivant avec moins d'un dollar par jour de 65 % à 20%. A l'heure où de nombreux gouvernements élaborent des stratégies de réduction de la pauvreté, la CNUCED préconise des politiques nationales qui augmentent l'investissement, les exportations et les capacités productives et un meilleur soutien au plan international.

The role of micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in delivering energy-efficient products and in providing renewable energy equipment can become crucial in the post-COVID-19 recovery phase if they are provided with necessary incentives. This can be one of the ways to restart MSME or even create new ones when job opportunities are scarce. The study includes an analysis of the environment that MSMEs face as a result of COVID-19; best practices in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy that show how MSME may respond; measures that MSME can undertake in delivering energy-efficient products; and recommendations on creating an environment for MSME to facilitate an economic recovery in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

This revised fourth edition of the publication, the so-called Blue Book, continues providing precise and updated information on the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) serviced by the UNECE Sustainable Transport Division: on its historical background, its administrative and legal framework with a user's guide, and the three international UN Agreements administered by the World Forum. Note: The fourth edition of the Blue Book had been published in 2019.

The United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) is designed as a unifying framework for the integrated management of resources. UNRMS is based on the globally accepted United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), which has incorporated a unique methodology of assessing resources through the triple lenses of environmental-social-economic viability, project feasibility and level of knowledge. It is a voluntary global standard for integrated resource management, within the framework of public, public-private and civil society partnerships, and is uniformly applicable to all resources.

The publication proposes a method for hydrogen classification needed to jumpstart production and international trade in hydrogen. It also presents several project ideas in selected UNECE member States that would accelerate deployment of hydrogen.

Fuel Trafficking in the Sahel is part of a series of transnational organized crime threat assessment reports on the Sahel. The report explores fuel trafficking in the Sahel by looking at the nature of the market, trafficking flows, the main actors involved, as well as the enablers and impact of this form of trafficking on the region.

La Revue annuelle du marché des produits forestiers 2018-2019 fournit une analyse complète des marchés dans la région de la CEE et examine l’influence sur les marchés des principaux facteurs hors de la région. Elle traite des produits forestiers à partir de la forêt jusqu’à l’utilisateur final, c’est-à-dire des bois ronds et des produits de première transformation, aux produits à valeur ajoutée et aux produits utilisés dans la construction de logements. Les chapitres de la Revue qui s’appuient sur des statistiques sont consacrés à la matière première bois, aux sciages de résineux, aux sciages de feuillus, aux panneaux dérivés du bois, aux papiers et cartons et à la pâte de bois. D’autres chapitres analysent les politiques et les marchés du bois pour la production d’énergie. S’appuyant sur une série exhaustive de données, la Revue met en lumière le rôle des produits forestiers durables sur les marchés internationaux et analyse les politiques relatives aux forêts et aux produits forestiers, ainsi que les principaux facteurs déterminants et les tendances. Elle présente également une analyse des effets de la situation économique actuelle sur les marchés des produits forestiers.

This publication demonstrates the benefits and added value of implementing intersectoral (nexus) solutions to solve the most typical problems affecting transboundary basins in terms of water quantity, quality, and environment. It is based on a survey of stakeholders worldwide who have experience with solutions and investments that link water management, energy, land/agriculture and/or environment protection, including from nexus assessments and dialogues. Designing, planning, and implementing nexus solutions and investments is in the interest of all policy makers (notably from energy and agriculture). Such nexus solutions – in contrast to sectoral-specific solutions – are associated with lower political risks (broader consensus) and higher levels of coherence with respect to cross-sectoral goals (e.g. climate goals, sustainable development) and broader benefits (multiple interests). The categories of solutions considered include international/transboundary cooperation, governance, economic and policy instruments, as well as infrastructure and innovation, while experiences of financing nexus investments are also discussed here.

While Methane (CH4) is the second most prevalent anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) after carbon dioxide (CO2), the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the former is 28-34 times higher than that of the latter. Coal mining is a major source of methane emissions, accounting for about 12% of global total anthropogenic emissions of that gas. Most emissions come from underground working mines, but those from abandoned mines are raising. Action on methane requires a solid understanding of emission sources at national, subnational, and local levels. Only with reliable emissions data, can policymakers design effective GHG policies, evaluate mitigation opportunities, and comply with their international climate commitments. National monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) programs can not only help countries better understand the contribution of coal mining to their overall methane and GHG emissions, but also identify opportunities for mitigation. In particular, MRV can help assess and track the effectiveness of the adopted climate policies. Setting up efficient MRV schemes is also important to deliver on international climate commitments in the context of the Paris Agreement.

For many decades, cities in the Asia Pacific region have followed unsustainable patterns of transport development: worsening congestion and traffic safety, deteriorating air quality, high consumption of fossil fuels, and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, many city governments are now developing sustainable transport strategies to target these issues and promote more sustainable modes, such as public transport and non-motorized transport. To date, however, their efforts to design effective strategies have been thwarted by their limited capacity to collect and analyze data. The Sustainable Urban Transport Index (SUTI) was developed by ESCAP to address this gap. The SUTI is a tool that summarizes, tracks and compares the performance of cities in sustainable urban transport and related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SUTI is a composite index made up of ten indicators, each measuring different aspects of sustainable urban transport. In addition, the data which make up the SUTI can be collected by city officials at low cost and on a regular basis, thereby allowing them to continuously monitor their city’s performance over time. The main aim of this report is to demonstrate how SUTI can be used by policymakers to monitor progress towards sustainable urban mobility, as well as to identify those policies which will move urban transport systems towards sustainability. It contains the results of SUTI assessments conducted in 24 cities of the Asia and Pacific region between 2017 and 2021.

Europe’s Environment – the seventh pan-European environmental assessment – is the latest in the series of regional assessments conducted since 1995. The environmental assessments of the pan-European region provide up-to-date and policy-relevant information on the interactions between the environment and society. The assessments have been a consistent feature of the Environment for Europe process from 1995 to 2022. At its twenty-fifth session (Geneva, 13–15 November 2019), the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy selected a limited indicator-based and thematic assessment from among the options for the seventh pan-European environmental assessment. The main objective of the seventh assessment is to provide decision-makers with adequate information to take informed policy decisions at the Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Nicosia, 5–7 October 2022), both on broader environmental issues and trends and on the two conference themes on (a) “Greening the economy in the pan-European region: working towards sustainable infrastructure” and (b) “Applying principles of circular economy to sustainable tourism”. The seventh edition of the pan-European environmental assessment provides an overview of the current state and trends of the environment in Europe and Central Asia based on selected indicators, and of the challenges that are faced. It also provides policy recommendations to UNECE member States. Its release gives an opportunity for tracking progress achieved in meeting global and regional policy goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, and offers information to enable a societal transition towards more sustainable and circular economies in the face of an alarming planetary change.

The Energy Statistics Compilers Manual (ESCM) is a publication that complements in a practical manner the International Recommendations for Energy Statistics (IRES), which provides a comprehensive methodological framework for the collection, compilation and dissemination of energy statistics in all countries irrespective of the level of development of their statistical system. In particular, IRES provides of a set of internationally agreed recommendations covering all aspects of the statistical production process, from the institutional and legal framework, basic concepts, definitions and classifications to data sources, data compilation strategies, energy balances, data quality issues and statistical dissemination. The ESCM is written primarily for practitioners that are tasked with building up or improving the energy statistics programme of a country or institution in a way that is consistent with the latest international standards and produces reliable and internationally comparable data.The ESCM aims to assist countries in the collection, analysis and dissemination of energy statistics to international standards. Its purpose is to complement IRES by providing explanations that make it easier to apply the principles defined in IRES in practical applications, to understand specific relationships that facilitate or complicate the adaptation of such principles to national situations and therefore provide practical ways to implement an energy statistics programme that is consistent with the established international recommendations.

The 2019 Energy Balances contains energy balances for over 220 countries and territories, showing production, trade, transformation and consumption (by sector) in energy units for all energy products. It presents energy data for countries and areas in a format which shows the overall picture of the production, trade, transformation and consumption of energy products utilized in the region. Such a format is useful in assessing and analyzing supply and consumption patterns across both products and countries in detail on an internationally comparable basis.

This publication is the sixth in a series of pocketbook compilations on energy statistics designed to highlight the availability of data on various aspects of energy production, transformation and use and its linkages to other key statistics. Energy is central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and sound energy statistics are the basis for the reliable measurement of progress, thereby assisting the formulation of policy measures to achieve international and national sustainable development goals.

L'environnement en Europe - La septième évaluation paneuropéenne de l’environnement - est le dernier d'une série de rapports régionaux menés depuis 1995. Les rapports paneuropéens d’évaluation de l’état de l’environnement fournissent des informations à jour et pertinentes pour les politiques gouvernementales sur les interactions entre l'environnement et la société. Les rapports ont été un élément cohérent du processus « Un environnement pour l'Europe » de 1995 à 2022. À sa vingt-cinquième session (Genève, 13-15 novembre 2019), le Comité des politiques environnementales de la CEE a sélectionné une évaluation thématique et basée sur des indicateurs parmi les options pour le septième rapport paneuropéen. L'objectif principal du septième rapport est de fournir aux décideurs des informations adéquates pour prendre des décisions politiques éclairées lors de la neuvième conférence ministérielle « Un environnement pour l'Europe » (Nicosie, 5-7 octobre 2022), à la fois sur des questions et tendances environnementales plus larges et sur les deux thèmes de la conférence sur (a) « Rendre l'économie verte dans la région paneuropéenne : œuvrer pour des infrastructures durables » et (b) « Appliquer les principes de l'économie circulaire au tourisme durable ». La septième édition de l'évaluation de l’état de l’environnement donne un aperçu de l'état actuel et des tendances de l'environnement en Europe et en Asie centrale sur la base d’indicateurs sélectionnés, et des défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés. Il fournit également des recommandations de politique générale aux États membres de la CEE. Sa publication donne l'occasion de suivre les progrès accomplis dans la réalisation des objectifs politiques mondiaux et régionaux, y compris les objectifs et cibles de développement durable, et offre des informations pour permettre une transition sociétale vers des économies plus durables et circulaires face à un changement planétaire alarmant.

The ECE Region is at a crossroads and the time is NOW for Member States to put in place policies to drive action that will build a resilient energy system that acknowledges the need for affordable access to energy for quality of life and economic growth, minimizes the environmental impact of the system to create sustainability and meet carbon emission goals, while securing the supply necessary to support society’s needs. The Expert Groups under the UNECE’s Committee for Sustainable Energy (CSE) have collaborated to produce a technical roadmap to balance competing priorities in recognition of today’s very real climate, security, and affordability challenges. It respects Member States’ rights to make decisions that meet their own priorities and as such does not prescribe the specific path forward but lays out the technical considerations that are in critical need of balance at this point in time.

The Energy Balances 2021 contains energy balances for over 220 countries and territories, showing production, trade, transformation and consumption (by sector) in energy units for all energy products. It presents energy data for countries and areas in a format which shows the overall picture of the production, trade, transformation and consumption of energy products utilized in the region. Such a format is useful in assessing and analyzing supply and consumption patterns across both products and countries in detail on an internationally comparable basis.

This publication contains detailed national accounts estimates for 178 countries and areas of the world for the reporting year 2000. The estimates for each country or area are presented in separate chapters with uniform table headings and classifications as recommended in the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA). A summary of the SNA conceptual framework, classifications and definitions are included in this publication. National Accounts Statistics: Main Aggregates and Detailed Tables contains statistics in such areas as: gross domestic product, national income, savings, private and government consumption, and transactions of institutional sectors. It is a valuable source of information on the economic situation of countries.

The Smart Sustainable City Profile of Podgorica was developed based on the results of the evaluation of the performance of the city against the Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities. This City Profile includes an analysis of the outcomes of the evaluation, information on the city’s policies, programmes projects and partnerships that aim to accelerate the city’s progress towards achieving the SDGs, as well as policy recommendations for consideration of the city government.

This publication is the seventh in a series of pocketbook compilations on energy statistics designed to highlight the availability of data on various aspects of energy production, transformation and use and its linkages to other key statistics. Energy is central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and sound energy statistics are the basis for the reliable measurement of progress, thereby assisting the formulation of policy measures to achieve international and national sustainable development goals.

This is the sixteenth issue of Energy Balances and Electricity Profiles published by the United Nations Statistics Division presents energy data for selected countries in a format which shows the overall picture of energy production, conversion and consumption for fuels utilized in the country. It is an excellent source for assessing and analyzing production and consumption patterns in detail on an internationally comparable basis.

Los requisitos polifacéticos del desarrollo sostenible dependen de una producción y un uso óptimos y responsables de los recursos naturales. El Sistema de Gestión de Recursos de las Naciones Unidas (UNRMS) proporciona el marco para la gestión integrada y sostenible de los recursos naturales para promover buenos resultados sociales, ambientales y económicos en consonancia con la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible. UNRMS se basa en la Clasificación Marco de Recursos de las Naciones Unidas y proporciona un camino de transición sostenible para producir, usar y reutilizar los recursos naturales para convertirse en motores del desarrollo sostenible.

La producción, el transporte, el almacenamiento y el uso del carbón representan aproximadamente el 40% de las emisiones mundiales de gases de efecto invernadero. Metano, que es un potente gas de efecto invernadero con un potencial de calentamiento global de 100 años 25 veces mayor que el del dióxido de carbono (CO2) y un potencial de temperatura global de 100 años 6 veces mayor que el CO2, una vez liberado de las vetas de carbón en las que está atrapado. crea una serie de problemas incluso después del cese de las actividades mineras. Después del cierre de la mina, las emisiones de metano disminuyen, pero no se detienen por completo. Esta publicación presenta los principios y estándares recomendados para la recuperación y el uso efectivos del metano de las minas de carbón abandonadas.

Europe’s Environment – the seventh pan-European environmental assessment – is the latest in the series of regional assessments conducted since 1995. The environmental assessments of the pan-European region provide up-to-date and policy-relevant information on the interactions between the environment and society. The assessments have been a consistent feature of the Environment for Europe process from 1995 to 2022. At its twenty-fifth session (Geneva, 13–15 November 2019), the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy selected a limited indicator-based and thematic assessment from among the options for the seventh pan-European environmental assessment. The main objective of the seventh assessment is to provide decision-makers with adequate information to take informed policy decisions at the Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Nicosia, 5–7 October 2022), both on broader environmental issues and trends and on the two conference themes on (a) “Greening the economy in the pan-European region: working towards sustainable infrastructure” and (b) “Applying principles of circular economy to sustainable tourism”. The seventh edition of the pan-European environmental assessment provides an overview of the current state and trends of the environment in Europe and Central Asia based on selected indicators, and of the challenges that are faced. It also provides policy recommendations to UNECE member States. Its release gives an opportunity for tracking progress achieved in meeting global and regional policy goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, and offers information to enable a societal transition towards more sustainable and circular economies in the face of an alarming planetary change.

The Greening the Blue Report 2021 provides a snapshot of the UN system’s environmental impacts throughout 2020 and its activities to reduce them. The 2021 edition of the Report covers data for 2020 on environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water, environmental management, and, for the first time, procurement and human resources management functions. The report includes data on 56 entities from across the UN system, representing approximately 315,000 personnel in Headquarters, in thousands of field offices, and operations on the ground. It shows that in 2020, the UN system generated ~1.5 million tonnes CO2eq greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with per capita emissions of 5 tonnes CO2eq. In 2020, the emissions sources were 32 percent from air travel, 12 percent from other travel (rail, road, sea, etc.), and 55 percent from facilities. In 2020, 19 percent of UN electricity worldwide came from the use of renewable energies either purchased from the country grid or self-generated. The UN system was able to offset 99 percent of GHG emissions. While offsetting is an important factor in managing unavoidable emissions, the priority for the UN system remains emissions reductions and elimination. This edition of the Report reveals the impacts of COVID-19 on the UN system’s environmental footprint. With significant worldwide travel restrictions and many UN personnel working from home, the UN system generated approximately 25 percent fewer GHG emissions than in 2019.

The 2020 Energy Statistics Yearbook is the sixty-fourth issue in a series of annual compilations of internationally comparable statistics summarizing world energy trends. Annual data for 225 countries and areas for the period 2017 to 2020 are presented on production, trade and consumption of energy: solids, liquids, gaseous fuels, electricity and heat, covering both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. In addition, per capita consumption series are also provided for all energy products. Graphs are included to illustrate historic trends and/or changes in composition of production and/or consumption of major energy products. Special tables of interest include: international trade tables for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas by partner countries – providing information on direction of trade; selected series of statistics on renewables and wastes; refinery distillation capacity; and a table on selected energy resources.

The 2020 Energy Balances contains energy balances for over 220 countries and territories, showing production, trade, transformation and consumption (by sector) in energy units for all energy products. It presents energy data for countries and areas in a format which shows the overall picture of the production, trade, transformation and consumption of energy products utilized in the region. Such a format is useful in assessing and analyzing supply and consumption patterns across both products and countries in detail on an internationally comparable basis.

The Sustainability Integration Framework for Institutional Investors (hereafter “the framework”) draws on best practices from asset owners and managers to assist institutional investors interested in crafting their own approach to sustainability integration. While it is mainly directed at SWFs and PPFs, many of the strategies and methodologies are applicable to a wider audience of asset owners and managers. The framework intends to offer a structured approach for thinking about sustainability and is supplemented by case studies and examples that illustrate best practices. Recognizing that institutional investors have different risk exposures and tolerances often stipulated by fiduciary rules, that they have different financial and human resource capabilities, and are bound by diverse regulatory environments, the framework offers valuable inputs for institutional investors across the maturity spectrum.

The achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) – ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030 – is challenging for the region. The objective of this report is to examine the progress made by Asia-Pacific countries towards achieving SDG 7 in the decade of action on the SDGs. In it, key energy trends are examined, immediate challenges are reviewed and the preparation of more ambitious agendas towards net-zero emissions are assessed to give recommendations of the steps needed to be taken by stakeholders and policymakers to achieve the goal of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

With energy demand in Asia and the Pacific forecast to increase by 60 per cent from 2010 to 2035, access to reliable and adequate energy services will remain a focus for decades to come. Countries in the region need to maximize their potential, improve energy access, increase shares of renewable energy, promote energy efficiency and strengthen cooperation on energy security and connectivity. The 2016 Report supports the implementation of the SDG7 and consists of two parts. Part I (Chapter 2) provides an overview of the implementation of areas of action. Part II (Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6) discusses emerging energy issues in the global market and Asia-Pacific region.

This document focuses on carbon pricing as one policy strand used to tackle global GHG emissions. It gives an overview of implemented and forthcoming domestic and cross-border carbon pricing mechanisms, as well as their implications for GHG emissions, international trade and development. It lays out the characteristics of various approaches, including the potential pitfalls and unintended economic and environmental side effects which need to be addressed for these approaches to work.

This publication is the latest and most thoroughly updated regional edition of the SDG7 regional tracking report which addresses access to sustainable and modern energy for all. This report aims to build capacity in the Arab region, through access to information, with the aim of strengthening proactive policy to improve energy security, enhance resilience in the face of climate change and mainstream sustainable development goals into regional and national policy processes. This report tracks progress in SDG7 at the Arab regional and country levels through the three main indicators of energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy. It also traces the interlinkages between progress in SDG7 and SDG13 on climate change.

The publication shows how gas provides affordably the required flexibility to enable the integration of higher shares of VRE in the energy mix. The publication enlarges the scope of the renewable energy concept to cover, not only renewable electricity, but also renewable gases. It contains two parts. The first focuses on the short term and the use of flexible, cost-competitive, and agile natural gas-fired generation as enabler of variable renewable energy (VRE) sources integration. This second part discusses phase is based on the hybrid energy system concept which envisages the use of new gases(renewable, decarbonised and low carbon), together with the sectoral integration concept, and other technologies (e.g. DSM, DER, CCS, etc.), as pillars to advance in VRE penetration while significantly reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The publication concludes with a number of recommendations aimed to guide UNECE member States in subsequently developing a coherent policy and regulatory frameworks to renewable energy across the region on a secure, competitive and resilient manner.

Meeting the ASEAN’s rapid rising energy demand is challenging policymakers while they have tried to balance commitments to global, regional and national agendas on climate change and sustainable energy. Decisive action by the region’s policymakers is needed in order to transition and expand energy systems to sustainably and equitably deliver modern energy services. In support of knowledge-sharing among Member States, this publication not only provides an overview of progress towards global SDG 7 targets and regional targets under the ASEAN framework, but also offers a country-by-country review of efforts under each of the major themes.

The Asia and the Pacific region has become a global economic powerhouse. The region’s rapid and sustained economic growth, increasing population, expanding industrialisation and rapid urbanization are driving rapid growth in energy demand, which. Ensuring that supplies of energy are adequate to meet the growth in demand in ways that are socially, economically and environmentally responsible creates a new set of challenges for policymakers. The transition to 2030 energy pathway, which is aimed at addressing those challenges, has four coherent and interlinked objectives – increased energy supply to meet the growing demand, improved energy security, meeting the SDG7 targets and achieving NDCs. Addressing the complex and challenging task requires policymakers to develop a clear, sustainable and achievable pathway that would enable the countries, as well as the region as a whole, to achieve the 2030 goals and targets This report undertakes an in-depth analysis to first determine the level of achievement is possible under the current policy regime by developing a baseline. It then identifies the gap between the baseline and the 2030 targets to inform policymakers the additional efforts and resources that would be needed to adequately achieve SDG7 targets as well as the NDCs mitigation targets for the energy sector. Finally, different transition pathways have been developed and their socio-economic and environmental facets have been examined to assist policymakers to make an informed decision. The report also identifies the enabling policy, technology and market environment that would accelerate the achievement of the 2030 targets.

There are several pathways through which energy systems are transitioning to a decarbonized, sustainable economy. The development and implementation of these technologies are being driven by innovation in a wide variety of technologies. Now that most economies are emerging, governments are focused on driving a sustainable socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is an endemic issue which must be addressed. The energy sector is missing out on the experiences, skills, and talents of much of half the human population, which severely constrains the sustainable energy transition. In addition to a larger skilled workforce, there are several advantages in bridging the gender gap within the energy sector. Gender disparities in the energy sector have been observed around the world. Women are less represented in policymaking, corporate leadership and governance, as entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and in the labour workforce. These barriers are surmountable using a two-way complementary approach, which is simultaneously bottom-up - action by women and society to bridge the gap of gender inequality in the energy sector – and top-down – government and policymakers need to develop policy tools to encourage women’s participation in the energy sector. This paper is summarising key findings from a report and empirical case studies of five United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) member States: Albania, Belarus, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.

This publication offers an exploration into examples of the transformative power of digital technologies within the energy sector across the UNECE member states and beyond. Aiming to cover the whole energy value chain, it showcases how digitalization is reshaping the energy landscape worldwide, driving efficiency and sustainability of the energy systems. From smart grids and energy management systems to predictive analytics and blockchain applications, the case studies discuss benefits and challenges of integrating digital technologies into energy systems and highlight lessons learned from such transformations. With contributions from leading experts in the area, this publication synthesizes insights from a range of contexts. It is designed to facilitate informed decision-making and to serve as a knowledge hub for stakeholders who seek to navigate the complexities of digital transformation in the energy sector in the UNECE region and beyond.

Ce rapport se concentre sur le rôle de l’accès à l’énergie moderne dans la transformation structurelle de l’économie – un enjeu crucial tant pour les pays les moins avancés (PMA) que pour le Programme de développement durable à l’horizon 2030. Il met l’accent sur les circonstances, les défis et les expériences spécifiques des PMA. Il se concentre ensuite sur l’accès transformateur à l’énergie – une approche de l’accès universel qui va au-delà des besoins fondamentaux des ménages pour fournir les moyens de la transformation structurelle des économies des PMA par le développement d’activités et de secteurs modernes plus productifs. Il démontre également le rôle de la transformation structurelle dans l’amélioration de l’accès à l’énergie, en générant une demande supplémentaire suffisante d’électricité pour des usages productifs. Enfin, il présente de nouvelles estimations des coûts d’investissement de l’accès universel à l’électricité et de l’accès transformateur à l’énergie dans les PMA.

La reclassification est le processus par lequel les pays les moins avancés (PMA) cessent d’être membres de la catégorie des PMA, en reconnaissance de leurs avancées en matière de développement. En principe, elle marque un passage d’une situation de dépendance à un plus grand degré d’autosuffisance et une sortie des pièges du développement qui assaillent les PMA. Cependant, la perte d’accès aux mesures internationales de soutien (MIS) liées au statut de PMA lors de la reclassification peut entraîner des coûts économiques importants, dont une perte estimée de 3 à 4 % des recettes d’exportation dans le cas des préférences commerciales. Au cours des 45 années écoulées depuis la création de la catégorie des PMA, seuls quatre pays ont quitté la catégorie des PMA ; et les projections du Rapport indiquent que l’objectif de la moitié des PMA reclassés d’ici 2020 a peu de chances d’être atteint. Cela reflète en partie l’insuffisance des MIS existantes. Les projections suggèrent également une modification fondamentale de la composition du groupe, qui, d’ici 2025, sera presque entièrement composé de pays africains et ne comprendra qu’une seule petite économie insulaire. Le rapport soutient que l’obtention du diplôme doit être considérée comme faisant partie d’un processus de développement plus long et plus large, et souligne la nécessité d’une « obtention du diplôme avec élan » – une approche qui va au-delà du respect des critères statistiques d’obtention du diplôme pour jeter les bases du développement futur.

Le Rapport sur le développement durable en Afrique 2018 passe en revue les résultats obtenus par l’Afrique au regard de cinq objectifs du Programme 2030 et des cibles et indicateurs connexes, tenant compte de leur correspondance avec l’Agenda 2063. Le rapport utilise les données les plus récentes provenant de sources internationales pour suivre ces résultats et présenter les enseignements tirés de la mise en œuvre des deux programmes d’action. L’édition de cette année s’inscrit dans le droit fil du thème du Forum politique de haut niveau (FPHN) de 2018, à savoir « Transformation vers des sociétés durables et résilientes », et des Objectifs 6, 7, 11, 12 et 15 du Programme de développement durable à l’horizon 20301. En outre, il examine l’évolution du triptyque « sciences, technologie et innovation » en Afrique et son rôle dans la promotion de la mise en œuvre des Objectifs de développement durable sur le continent.

The 2020 African Sustainable Development Report is the fourth in a series of reports dating back to 2017. These reports have sought to assess the progress and ongoing challenges faced by African States in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) included in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the corresponding goals of the African Union provided in Agenda 2063. This year’s report uses an analytical lens that places all the SDGs into five “Pillars” or clusters: People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace, and Partnerships. These five Pillars break down the goals and targets into smaller areas of analysis and focus on higher-level development objectives without losing sight of the overall trajectory of the goals and targets. The objective of the analysis is therefore to carry out a holistic examination of each of the Pillars, rather than examine each of the goals that fall within each Pillar. To further focus the Report, wherever possible, the analysis focuses on comparing the progress and challenges according to Africa’s five commonly defined sub regions: Northern Africa, Western Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa.