The partnership aims to ensure access to sustainable energy in order to avoid the emission of harmful greenhouse gas emissions, using renewable energy and by energy conservation.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg presented Norway's new initiative at a conference named Norway and the International Energy Agency (IEA) between 10-11 September. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was among the participants among the prominent representatives from more than 60 countries, international organizations, businesses and NGOs.
Energy and Climate Initiative is the contribution to the UN Secretary General's vision that everyone should have access to energy, that energy efficiency should be doubled and the proportion of renewable energy in the world should be fostered by 2030.
– We must create a political momentum for the goal of energy for everyone. 2012 is the year of sustainable energy for all, and the UN Summit (Rio +20) in June 2012 gives us a historic opportunity, said Ban Ki-moon.
UN Secretary General has invited leaders from business, politics, international organizations and NGOs to meet to agree on measures that everyone can take – locally, regionally, nationally and globally.
The initiative is inspired by the successful program to reduce emissions from deforestation and destruction of forests (REDD). The initiative will support developing countries' efforts to transform the energy sector so that everyone can have access to sustainable energy, and so that greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by moving on to renewable energy and increased energy efficiency.
In return, this will lead to energy and job security, better health, business opportunities for private investors and economic growth nationally.
The following States and organizations have formally declared that they will be included in the energy and climate partnership:
Kenya, Bhutan, Liberia, Ethiopia, South Africa, India, Maldives, Tanzania, UK, Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the international agency for renewable energy (IRENA), Global Village Energy Partnership, United Nations Foundation.
UN Secretary General has launched the initiative "Sustainable Energy for All" (SE4ALL). The initiative works to achieve the goal of sustainable energy for all by 2030 using three global goals:
access for all to modern energy services
40 percent increase in energy savings
a share of 30 percent renewable energy in total world energy consumption.