Commission on Sustainable Development
Ninth session, 16-27 April 2001.
Agenda item 3

Decision 9/1

Energy for Sustainable Development

A.    General Considerations

1.  Energy is central to achieving the goals of sustainable development.

2. The magnitude and scale of energy needs facing the world today in relation to sustainable development can be gauged by the fact that nearly one third of the global population of six billion, mostly living in developing countries, continue to lack access to energy and transportation services.  Wide disparities in the levels of energy consumption within and between developed and developing countries exist.  Current patterns of energy production, distribution, and utilization are unsustainable.

3.  The challenge ahead will require adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources, in accordance with chapter 33 of Agenda 21, and paragraphs 76 to 87 of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, technology transfer, and, where appropriate, political will, as well as commitment to innovative ways of applying energy efficient, environmentally sound, and cost-effective technologies and systems to all sectors of the economy.  Energy resources are plentiful, and environmentally sound technological options exist and should be made available and facilitated by developed countries to developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition with a view to making energy for sustainable development a reality.  Ensuring adequate and affordable access to energy for present and future generations, in an environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable way will require considerable efforts and substantial investments, including from the private sector.  Attention will also need to be given to promoting an enabling environment.  

4. In order to make energy systems more supportive of sustainable development objectives, contributions from all stakeholders, as well as increased investments, will be needed.  Change will not be driven by resource constraints for a very long time to come. Energy for sustainable development can be achieved by providing universal access to a cost-effective mix of energy resources compatible with different needs and requirements of various countries and regions. This should include giving a greater share of the energy mix to renewable energies, improving energy efficiency and greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including fossil fuel technologies.  Policies relating to energy for sustainable development intended to promote these objectives will address many of the issues of economic and social development as well as facilitate the responsible management of environmental resources.

5.  In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradations, States have common but differentiated responsibilities.  The choice and implementation of policies to improve the ways to achieve energy for sustainable development basically rest with Governments.  However, financial resources play a key role in their implementation. For developing countries, ODA is a main source of external funding, and substantial new and additional funding for sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21 will be required.  A participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders could facilitate progress.  Given that energy is an area with strong interdependencies among countries, international cooperation should be promoted in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.  The way in which energy issues are addressed in a country depends on the national energy situation and needs.  Therefore, a range of options and strategies becomes necessary to address the issues involved.  Accordingly, a number of options and strategies that could effect a change in the way energy is dealt with are delineated subsequently.  The choice of any specific option would obviously depend on the domestic situation.

6.  The Commission underlines the importance of Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration in the context of energy policies, taking fully into account the economic, social and environmental conditions of all countries, in particular of developing countries.

B.   Issues and Options

7.  Governments as well as relevant regional and international organizations, and other relevant stakeholders are invited to consider the following issues and options when dealing with energy, taking into account national and regional specificities and circumstances, bearing in mind the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

8.  Foremost in the developing countries’ priorities is the eradication of poverty for the furtherance of sustainable development. Efforts should therefore be made to ensure that energy policies are supportive to developing countries’ efforts to eradicate poverty, with financial assistance, as appropriate.  Nevertheless, environmental standards should not be applied in ways that would hinder these efforts.

9. Governments may seek assistance, as appropriate, from relevant regional and international organizations in the formulation and implementation of their domestic energy policies.  The international community should support national efforts by promoting capacity building, technology transfer, investments and other forms of financial resources for developing countries.      

10.  Governments, continuing to have responsibility to develop and apply energy policies to achieve sustainable development, are invited to consider the following options, as appropriate.

(a)  Combining, as appropriate, the increased use of renewable energy sources, more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including advanced fossil fuel technologies, and the sustainable use of traditional energy resources, which could meet the growing needs for energy services in the longer term to achieve sustainable development;

(b)  Integrating energy considerations in socio-economic programmes, and especially in policy making of major energy consuming sectors such as the public sector, transport, industry, agriculture, urban planning, and construction;

(c)  Establishing an appropriate enabling environment conducive to attracting investments and supportive of the objectives of sustainable development and to ensuring public participation;

(d)  Developing appropriate energy services, particularly in rural areas, through the application of the most cost-effective, socially acceptable, and environmentally friendly technologies, the deployment of specific energy service delivery structures, and the development of renewable energy resources, including biomass;

(e) Supporting efforts to improve the functioning of energy markets with respect to both supply and demand, with the aim of achieving greater stability and predictability and to ensure consumer access to energy services;

(f)  Establish domestic programmes for energy efficiency including, as appropriate, by accelerating the deployment of energy efficiency technologies, with the necessary support of the international community;

(g) Supporting increased use of renewable energies both in grid-connected and decentralized systems;

(h) Optimizing the efficient use of fossil fuels through the increased development and use of advanced fossil fuel technologies;

(i) Enhancing international cooperation in order to assist countries, in particular developing countries, in their efforts to achieve energy for sustainable development;

(j) All countries should strive to promote sustainable consumption patterns; developed countries should take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption patterns; developing countries should seek to achieve sustainable consumption patterns in their development process, guaranteeing the provision of basic needs for the poor; 

(k) Encouraging public-private partnerships with a view to advancing energy for sustainable development;

(l) Facilitating the dissemination of information on environmentally sound technologies and processes.  To increase awareness of these options and enhance public participation as appropriate in decision-making surrounding the provision of these energy services for sustainable development;

(m) Strengthening the role of major groups, including women, inter alia, through participation in decision-making, as appropriate;

(n) Supporting energy conservation programmes in all economic sectors;

(o) Strengthening existing national and local institutions that develop, implement and operate national programmes on energy for sustainable development;

(p) Supporting research, development, and demonstration for the above mentioned activities towards energy for sustainable development including on transport systems; and enhancing regional and international cooperation in the research and development in these areas.

C.    Key Issues

11.  Concerning the key issues of energy identified at the first session of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Energy and Sustainable Development, the Commission recommends the following options and strategies in each key issue. To ensure effective implementation of such key issues, the means of such implementation, namely adequate and predictable new and additional financial resources in accordance with Chapter 33 of Agenda 21 and paragraphs 76 to 87 of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, transfer of environmentally sound technologies and capacity building, is fundamental.

1.   Accessibility of Energy

Challenges

12.  Access to energy is crucial to economic and social development and eradication of poverty.  Improving accessibility of energy implies finding ways and means by which energy services can be delivered reliably, affordably, in an economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound manner.

Recommendations

13. Governments, taking into account their national circumstances, are encouraged to:

(a)Establish or strengthen national and regional arrangements for promoting energy accessibility within the country;

(b) Improve access to modern biomass technologies and fuel wood sources and supplies and commercializing biomass operations, including the use of agricultural residues, where such practices are sustainable;

(c)Support the transition to the use of liquid and gaseous fossil fuels where considered more environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and cost-effective;

(d) Develop locally available energy resources for greater energy diversification where considered more environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and cost-effective with increasing use of renewable energy resources; 

(e) Support electricity services based on grid extension and/or decentralized energy technologies, particularly in isolated areas, as appropriate;

(f) Strengthen national and regional research and development institutions/centres on energy for sustainable development, including renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, advanced energy technologies, including advanced fossil fuel technologies, and sustainable use of traditional energy resources;

(g) Promote an environment which enables the public sector, the private sector and, as appropriate, energy cooperatives, including through public-private partnerships, to engage in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity at affordable rates and in the transfer of technology;

(h) Develop renewable energy, especially in rural areas, through community-based development methods;

(i) Enhance developing countries’ access to environmentally sound and economically viable technologies relating to energy for sustainable development; and

(j) Support equal access for women to sustainable and affordable energy technologies through needs assessments, energy planning and policy formulation at the local and national levels.

2.  Energy Efficiency

Challenges

14. Energy efficiency can be a win-win solution both for developed and developing countries, but currently energy efficiency has not reached its potential.  Barriers to optimizing the energy efficiency potential involve lack of access to technology, capacity building, and financial resources, as well as market related and institutional issues. 

Recommendations

15. Governments, taking into account their national circumstances, are encouraged to

(a) Strengthen public awareness programmes to mobilize all stakeholders;

(b)Promote an enabling environment for encouraging energy service companies for research and investments in energy efficiency;

(c)Provide incentives for energy conservation in all sectors taking into account domestic priorities; 

(d)Develop, as appropriate, at the country and regional level, energy efficiency programmes and policy options;

(e)Strengthen capacity building, including education and training, ranging from energy planning to technical engineering, to improve the performance of energy and materials use;

(f)Accelerate development and deployment of energy efficiency technologies;

(g)Integrate, as appropriate, energy efficiency considerations into the planning, operation and maintenance of long-lived energy consuming infrastructures, notably transport, urban lay-out, industry, agriculture, and tourism;

(h)Increase the efficiency of technologies used in the production and consumption of energy;

(i)Facilitate a movement towards more efficient utilization of energy through equipment manufacturing support programmes with international cooperation;

(j)Encourage the transfer of energy efficiency technologies, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed;

(k)Strengthen, as appropriate, existing institutions that develop and operate energy efficiency programmes;

(l)Strengthen, as appropriate, existing institutions that compile and disseminate information on energy efficiency programmes and technologies; and

(m)Develop and implement measures that make energy efficiency technologies more affordable.

3.   Renewable Energy

Challenges

16. The main challenge lies both for developed and developing countries in the development, utilization, and dissemination of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, ocean, wave, geothermal, biomass, and hydro power, on a scale wide enough to significantly contribute to energy for sustainable development. Despite some progress in promoting renewable energy applications in recent years, inter alia, through the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, numerous constraints and barriers including costs continue to exist.

Recommendations

17. Governments, taking into account their national circumstances, are encouraged to

(a) Develop and implement appropriate national, regional, and international policies and measures to create an enabling environment for the development, utilization, and distribution of renewable energy sources;

(b) Develop domestic programmes to increase the contribution of renewable energies to total energy consumption;

(c) Encourage the role of the private sector in the development and utilization of renewable energy technologies, through the provision of appropriate incentives and regulation;

(d) Strengthen research, development, demonstration and institutional capacities in the field of renewable energy utilization as well as transfer of environmentally sound and advanced technologies;

(e) Promote utilization of renewable natural resources such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro, including mini-hydro, and ocean (wave, tidal, and thermal energy conversion) to meet part of the energy needs for sustainable development;

(f) Strengthen information networks, compilation and dissemination systems, and public awareness programmes on renewable energy sources and technologies;

(g) Develop and use indigenous sources of renewable energy where appropriate;

(h) Develop and implement measures to make renewable energy technologies more affordable; and

(i) Strengthen financial support to developing countries for the promotion of renewable energy.

4. Advanced Fossil Fuels Technologies

Challenges

18. Given that fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in the energy mix in the decades to come, the deployment and use of advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies should be increased. More efforts should go into supporting the further development and dissemination of those technologies.

Recommendations

19. Governments, taking into account national circumstances, are encouraged to

(a) Develop and apply more efficient fossil-fuel fired power plants, buildings, appliances, and transportation, including cleaner coal and oil technologies;

(b) Increase the use of cleaner fossil fuels to improve efficiency in energy production, distribution, and use, where appropriate;

(c) Research, develop, and transfer technologies for transforming solid fuels to liquid or gaseous fuels;

(d) Enhance research, development, demonstration and transfer of advanced fossil fuel technologies leading to lower emissions;

(e) Promote research and, where suitable, applications of carbon capture and storage technologies;

(f)Promote cooperation with industries in a voluntary programme framework for cleaner fossil fuel technology deployment; and

(g) Develop and implement measures to make advanced fossil fuel technologies more accessible and affordable.

5.    Nuclear Energy Technologies

Challenges

20.  Nuclear power currently accounts for 16 per cent of the world’s electricity generation. However, nuclear energy is associated with a number of concerns, in particular regarding nuclear safety, spent fuel, waste management, transboundary consequences and decommissioning. The choice of nuclear energy rests with countries.

Some countries have been using nuclear energy technologies safely and see no inordinate concern in using and developing additional technology for properly managing and controlling spent fuel and other nuclear materials, and some of these countries consider that the use of nuclear energy should be increased. From their perspective, nuclear power is a sustainable energy source with both economical and environmental advantages. In their view, the removal of the option of nuclear power would remove an important element of flexibility and diversity in energy supply. For those countries that choose nuclear energy, the challenge lies in ensuring environmentally sound, socially acceptable and cost-effective solutions and in addressing nuclear safety and spent fuel and waste management as well as public concerns on these issues. Many countries seek the promotion of international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Some other countries have decided to phase-out nuclear energy from their energy supply mix.  Other countries, including several developed countries as well as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), do not use nuclear energy and do not consider nuclear energy as an appropriate or acceptable source of energy.  Many of these countries are of the view that nuclear energy is not compatible with the objectives of sustainable development, and that risks related to safety, waste management and transport and stranded costs remain unsolved.  Some are also of the opinion that the use of nuclear energy in general should be phased-out as soon as practically possible.

Recommendations

21.  Governments, taking into account their national circumstances, are encouraged to:

(a)Support their national efforts, including research and international cooperation as an effective tool in addressing the issues of nuclear safety and spent fuel and waste management;

(b)Strengthen independent national regulatory agencies and promote international cooperation in nuclear safety;

(c)Promote a high level of nuclear safety;

(d)Improve the transparency of nuclear safety-related decisions inter alia, through public participation, where appropriate;

(e)Promote public education and participation as well as capacity building of human resources, in the areas of nuclear energy and waste management;

(f)Further develop technological solutions for long-lived radioactive waste;

(g)Address the safety of their nuclear energy installations, as deemed appropriate after assessment by national regulatory authorities, including consideration of the option of phasing out and closing, as appropriate, such installations;

(h)Recalling paragraph 8 of IAEA Governing Council resolution, GC (44)/RES/17, and taking into account the very serious potential for environment and human health impacts of radioactive wastes, make efforts to examine and further improve measures and internationally-agreed regulations regarding safety, while stressing the importance of having effective liability mechanisms in place, relevant to international maritime transportation and other transboundary movement of radioactive material, radioactive waste, and spent fuel, including, inter alia, arrangements for prior notification and consultations done in accordance with relevant international instruments.   

6.   Rural Energy

Challenges

22. To implement the goal accepted by the international community to halve the proportion of people living on less than US$ 1 per day by 2015, access to affordable energy services is a prerequisite.  Efforts at finding the most appropriate solution to the energy problems of rural areas are hampered by the enormity of the problem, limited availability of resources and lack of appropriate technologies, high investment cost and connection fees, as well as insufficient attention to rural development in general.  An effective strategy to address the energy needs of rural populations can be to promote the climbing of the energy ladder.  This implies both improving ways of using biomass as well as moving from simple biomass fuels to the most convenient efficient form of energy appropriate to the task at hand, usually liquid or gaseous fuels for cooking and heating and electricity for most other uses. 

Recommendations

23.  Governments, taking into account their national circumstances, are encouraged to:

(a)Strengthen and, where appropriate, establish policies on energy for rural development including, as appropriate, regulatory systems to promote access to energy in rural areas;

(b)Develop, where necessary, specific and targeted energy service delivery structures adapted to rural needs;

(c)Promote local energy enterprises as employment opportunities, enhance local private entrepreneurs, developing local dealers to sell/maintain equipment building on local retail networks and relationships;

(d)Take into consideration the health and safety concerns of women and children in rural energy programmes;

(e)Promote research and development of the rural energy situation in support of the achievement of international development priorities, particularly poverty eradication;

(f)Promote a sustainable use of biomass and, as appropriate, other renewable energies through improvement of current patterns of use such as management of resources, more efficient use of fuel wood, as well as new or improved products and technologies;

(g)Establish financial arrangements to make rural energy services affordable to the poor;

(h)Support local groups and/or nongovernmental organizations in the promotion and delivery of newly developed environmentally sound technologies including solar cooker technology;  

(i)Develop and utilize indigenous energy sources and infrastructures for various local uses and promote rural community participation, including Local Agenda 21 groups, with the support of the international community in developing and utilizing renewable energy technologies to meet their daily energy needs to find simple and local solutions;

(j)Promote capacity building in local societies and remove barriers in the implementation of policies for renewable energy development in rural areas; and

(k)Promote efforts to address the disproportionate burdens experienced by women in rural areas including carrying loads of fuel wood over long distances and suffering adverse health effects from prolonged exposure to open fires.

7.   Energy and Transport

Challenges

24.  The transport sector is a major energy consuming sector and the sector for which energy consumption is projected to grow at the highest rate.  The challenge is to promote an integrated approach to developing transport systems for sustainable development.

Recommendations

25.  Governments, taking into account their national circumstances, are encouraged to:

(a)Manage transportation demand;

(b)Implement better transportation practices, including planning, in both urban and rural contexts, particularly toward public transportation systems and rail or water based freight transport;

(c)Increase fuel efficiency for different transportation modes;

(d)Promote the use of cleaner fuels and transport equipment and assist with the implementation of the recommendations of the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session on the progressive phasing out of the use of lead in gasoline, inter alia, by making available information, technical assistance, capacity building, and funding to developing countries including time-bound transfer of technology;   

(e)Integrate transport policy in other sustainable development policies.

D.   Overarching Issues

1.  Research and Development

26. The enhancement of research and development at the national, regional, and international levels of advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies, more efficient energy technologies as well as renewable energy technologies, is important for achieving energy for sustainable development for all.  Governments are encouraged to develop policies and incentives and to act as a catalyst to foster private sector investment in this field.  Increased energy research should also come from public and private investments or through joint public and private partnerships and/or through international and regional cooperation.

2.  Capacity Building

27.  Lack of local capacity is a major obstacle to the expansion of energy services in the developing world.  It is important that institutions, infrastructures, and human resources in developing countries be strengthened and that technological leadership in developing countries as well as in countries with economies in transition, with special efforts for least developed countries and small island developing states, be enhanced through international public and private cooperation that supports sustainable development objectives.  Developed countries, development banks, UNDP, and other relevant agencies including the Regional Commissions of the United Nations as well as bi-lateral development agencies should focus on capacity building in development cooperation.  A substantially replenished GEF would, among other things, continue to provide support, within its mandate, for capacity building and technology transfer to developing countries to advance energy for sustainable development.  International financial institutions should, through their lending policies, support capacity building and technology transfer as well as efforts to identify local needs.

3.  Technology Transfer

28.   In order to promote energy for sustainable development there is a need for favourable access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, in particular to developing countries, through supportive measures that promote technology cooperation and that should enable transfer of necessary technological know-how as well as building up of economic, technical and managerial capabilities for the efficient use and further development of transferred technology.  Technology cooperation involves joint efforts by enterprises and Governments, both suppliers of technology and its recipients.  Therefore, such cooperation entails an iterative process involving government, the private sector, and research and development facilities to ensure the best possible results from transfer of technology.  Successful long-term partnerships in technology cooperation necessarily require continuing systematic training and capacity building at all levels over an extended period of time.

4.  Information Sharing And Dissemination

29.  Information and knowledge sharing on technologies and policies facilitate efforts to achieve energy for sustainable development.  Relevant information could direct decision makers to suitable policy and energy supply options.  Very often the lack of such information and knowledge precludes countries from adopting new approaches in energy planning and technology applications.  Internet based information could assist such an exchange of information.  Developing countries require the assistance of developed countries in the area of information technology.

5.  Mobilization of Financial Resources

30.  Financial resources and mechanisms play a key role in the implementation of Agenda 21.  In general, the financing for the implementation of Agenda 21 will come from a country’s own public and private sectors.  For developing countries, ODA is an important source of external funding and new and additional funding for sustainable development and energy for sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21 will be required.  Hence all financial commitments of Agenda 21, particularly those contained in Chapter 33, and the provisions with regard to new and additional resources that are both adequate and predictable need to be urgently fulfilled.  Renewed efforts are essential to ensure that all sources of funding contribute to economic growth, social development, and environmental protection in the context of sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21. Many Governments have initiated reforms aimed at improving regulatory frameworks and institutional set-ups in order to attract private sector funding.  Specific policies have been introduced to induce the flow of investment capital for energy technology for sustainable development.  While more sustainable technologies often have lower operating costs than competing solutions, they sometimes require greater initial investments.  Particular attention should therefore be paid to the difficulties of financing these essential infrastructure investments in developing countries.  Financing from the GEF, within its mandate, could also be considered in this context. 

6.    Making markets work effectively for sustainable development

31.  Policies to reduce market distortions would promote energy systems compatible with sustainable development through the use of improved market signals, and by removing market distortions, including restructuring taxation and phasing out of harmful subsidies where they exist to reflect their environmental impacts. Such policies should take fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries, with the aim of minimising the possible adverse impacts on their development. Governments are encouraged to improve the functioning of national energy markets in such a way that they support sustainable development, as well as overcome market barriers and improve accessibility, taking fully into account that such policies should be decided by each country, taking into account its own characteristics and capabilities and different levels of development, especially as reflected in national sustainable development strategies, where they exist. 

7.   Multi-Stakeholder Approach and Public Participation

32.  Energy solutions that are compatible with sustainable development require the participation of all stakeholders and the involvement of the public at large.  The capacity of community based organisations and institutions including women’s groups to facilitate participatory approaches to energy for sustainable development should be strengthened, taking into account principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, with full recognition of principles 5, 7, and 11.

E.   Regional Cooperation

33.  The Commission notes with appreciation the efforts made at the regional level and by interest groups to discuss the key issues and formulate regional positions and programmes of action to promote energy for sustainable development.  It welcomes the statements that have resulted from these deliberations, recognizing that they provide valuable inputs to the work of the Commission.  Moreover, it encourages the Governments in these regional deliberations to actively promote the implementation of the resulting programmes of action.  In particular, the Commission recognized the value of regional cooperation in achieving economies of scale in energy services for sustainable development. 

34.  From these statements, the Commission recommends implementation of the following regional and sub-regional endeavours that may require sub-regional, regional, and international support:  

(a) Strengthening national and regional energy institutions or arrangements for enhancing regional and international cooperation on energy for sustainable development, in particular to assist developing countries in their domestic efforts to provide modern energy services to all sections of their populations by:

(i)Conducting in depth studies to promote sustainable development in the energy sector in the region, including the social, economic and environmental situation of the region and energy alternatives that support sustainable development;

(ii)Promoting training and exchange of experiences and regarding energy efficiency, renewable energy and advanced fossil-fuel technologies and lessons learned;

(iii)Strengthening regional networks of centres of excellence for the exchange of information and experience in the research, development and application of energy efficiency technologies, advanced fossil fuel and renewable energy; and

(iv)Strengthening and, where appropriate, establishing regional information and dissemination capabilities to provide information to the energy service industry on market opportunities and energy infrastructure and information to consumers on the benefits of energy efficiency measures;

(b)Promoting at the regional level rural electrification projects, including, inter alia, renewable energy technologies, and supporting local efforts to provide energy supplies to their basic infrastructures as well as integrating energy policies into overall rural development strategies with emphasis on income generation taking into account national circumstances;

(c)Strengthening and facilitating, as appropriate, regional cooperation arrangements for promoting cross-border energy trade including the interconnection of electricity grids and oil and natural gas pipelines;

(d)Strengthening and, where appropriate, facilitating dialogue forums among regional, national, and international producers and consumers of energy; and to that effect the commission complements the work of existing international energy forums;

(e)Promoting, where appropriate, cooperation among the concerned countries of the region and with the support of the international organizations to improve development and production of hydro-carbon fields through integrated cost reduction, enhanced operational efficiency, and application of advanced and more environmentally sound technology;

(f)Fostering regional cooperation when undertaking research, development, and demonstration on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced fossil fuel technologies;

(g)Encouraging regional cooperation for capacity building including South-South cooperation.

F.   International Cooperation

35.    The Commission recognizes the critical role that international cooperation, including regional cooperation can play in assisting countries, particularly developing countries, in their efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development.  In particular, international cooperation can be very effective in capacity building, education, technology transfer, information sharing, research and development, and the mobilization of resources, including financial resources, taking into account the above mentioned key issues and energy sources.

36.    The Commission recommends, in particular, international cooperation in the following areas:

(1)   Take concrete measures to maximize existing and to explore ways to increase financial resources and create innovative financing solutions to support energy for sustainable development, including through debt relief and where possible, debt cancellation, facilitating foreign investment, action to reverse the downward trend in ODA and strive to fulfil the commitments undertaken to reach the accepted UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP as soon as possible, the incorporation of energy for sustainable development considerations in bilateral and multilateral development cooperation programmes and in development cooperation programme activities of the IFIs and general lending policies, including through addressing of development of energy policy in national poverty eradication policies where they exist.  In this context, consideration should also be given to how, inter alia, ODA can be used to leverage private funds for the development of energy solutions that are compatible with sustainable development, bearing in mind that for developing countries, ODA is a main source of external funding;

(2)   Continuing the dialogue on issues relating to energy for sustainable development within the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) process in accordance with General Assembly resolution, A/RES/55/502/add.6 of 7 December 2000;

(3)   Promoting international public-private partnership cooperation programmes for promoting affordable, energy efficient and advanced fossil fuel and renewable energy technologies;

(4)   Promote networking between centres of excellence on energy for sustainable development by linking competent centres on energy technologies for sustainable development that could support and promote efforts at capacity-building and technology transfer activities, as well as serve as information clearing houses;

(5)   Making available grants and loans to developing countries on favourable terms that would permit sharing the cost of the development of energy infrastructure, including rural and remote energy infrastructure with relevant international lending institutions and private sector investments;

(6)   Exploring the scope of the use of existing international mechanisms for financing infrastructure development to identify risks and ensure they are managed on a transparent basis, with an effective equitable partnership between investors and host countries, as developing countries do not have institutional structures that are adequately prepared to deal with the scale of commercial risks associated with major energy investments;

(7)   Supporting the international endeavors to promote equal access and opportunities for women in relation to energy, including credit facilities and involvement in energy policy decision-making processes.