Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Renewable Energy

Statement on the High-level Briefing to LDCs Group on Accelerating Sustainable Recovery with Renewable Energy

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:24:00 +0000

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

14 October 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Greetings to all.

We are here together united by our conviction and shared goal that we must advance the access to renewable energy in the least developed countries. We all know that access to renewable energy is crucial to advance almost all the SDGs.

In June this year, UN-OHRLLS together with IRENA, UNIDO and the Rocky Mountain Institute, released a Policy Brief on advancing SDG 7 on Energy in the least developed countries.

The findings are unequivocal. Yes, the LDCs have made significant progress to achieve SDG7 over the last decade but they cannot do this alone. The least developed countries need strong support from all their partners to scale up and speed up efforts.

The good news is, with the right policy frameworks for renewables and finance, LDCs can move rapidly towards a future of clean, affordable electricity for all.

The ongoing COVID pandemic has unmasked many inequalities. The pandemic has unmasked how we cannot separate public health from access to energy , to food, to water - in short, the energy cross-sector linkages are very apparent and energy access takes centre-stage.

As admittedly slowly countries move from crisis response to recovery, we now must integrate sustainable energy as part and parcel of recovery programmes.

We cannot miss this opportunity and this will help economies to bounce back quicker and build inclusive, sustainable and resilient futures.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Integral to this effort is that we must continue to strive for limiting the global temperatures below 1.5 degree Celsius.

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our age. Two-thirds of greenhouse emissions can be attributed to energy-related sources. Renewable energy and energy efficiency form the cornerstone of the global climate mitigation strategy. LDCs need urgent and enhanced support of the international community on both these fronts. LDCs have contributed the least to global emissions.

We have together an opportunity to raise their climate ambition through enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and at the same time support job creation in the renewables and energy efficiency sectors in LDCs.

The deployment of modern renewables is lagging far behind its potential in the least developed countries.

Harnessing this potential is critical to leapfrog straight to renewables.

Let us be reminded of what happened in communication technologies. Many countries skipped fixed lines to go straight to mobile technology !

This leap enabled countries to skip costly infrastructure investments in land lines and move straight to digital technologies.

This triggered economic and social development benefits to millions and contributed to reducing poverty within and across countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Non-renewable energy capacity is growing faster than renewables in LDCs, partly due to lack of accessible finance. Thus, many LDCs have not been able to benefit from falling costs of renewables.

This does not have to be so. New technologies in off-grid and mini-grid solutions provide more cost-competitive options for improving energy access, especially in rural settings.

But it takes Innovative partnerships.

It takes investment in gathering up-to- date and reliable data on the energy needs and generation potential in LDCs.

It takes creating an enabling policy environment, legislation that are predictable and stable to attract investments.

The Malawi Energy Investment Study mentioned earlier by Ambassador Ligoya holds important lessons that other LDCs could also benefit from. The case of Malawi holds true for many LDCs. The case shows how critical capacity building and increased technical assistance are and particularly so to improve the pipeline of projects ready for investment.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The COVID pandemic is a game changer. It is up to us to now fashion recovery in ways to build inclusive and sustainable futures.

It is now that the measures to safeguard and promote renewable energy have to be put in place.

We need to create enabling environments, improve access to public finance as well as private investments.

The pandemic has grown the global momentum for a clean energy transformation.

We must capitalize on this momentum and accelerate the energy transition in LDCs.

I now look forward to the upcoming presentations and discussions on opportunities for strengthening cooperation with IRENA in harnessing the renewable energy potentials in the LDCs.

OHRLLS will continue to be by your side.

I thank you.

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Statement at the SDG Business Forum 2020: Catalyzing Finance and Investment for the Achievement of SDG 7

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:42:00 +0000

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

23 September 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to be here with you and participate in this important discussion on catalyzing finance and investment for the achievement of SDG 7.

The least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states consists of 91 countries, with a total of 1.1 billion people. All three groups of countries face significant challenges across the three dimensions of SDG 7 - Access, Efficiency and Renewables.

Vulnerable countries are increasingly incorporating access to reliable, affordable and renewable energy in their national development plans.

Natural resource endowments including solar, hydro, geothermal and wind, provide these countries comparative advantages in achieving clean and accessible energy.

Despite the growth potential of their energy sector, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS rarely benefit from large scale investments to the same extent as more prosperous developing countries.

For instance, public financial flows to developing countries in support of clean and renewable energy reached a total of US$ 21.4 billion in 2017. Only 12 per cent was directed to the least developed countries.

The success of delivering on SDG 7 hinges on a radical change of pace, and massive investment in the next few years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of robust and sustainable energy systems in managing risks and increasing resilience. The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on communities that are energy poor.

Linked to the recovery, there is a growing global momentum for a clean energy transformation. Working together with donors and investors, vulnerable countries can leapfrog to renewable technologies.

Ladies and gentlemen,

To achieve the goal of energy transition, it is essential to create enabling environments that attract public and private renewable energy investments. Well-functioning institutions, supportive public finance policy and regulatory reforms help build credibility with investors.

Innovative partnerships are needed and I would like to briefly share with you an example of this kind of partnership that my office has been involved in in Malawi.

In 2019, UN-OHRLLS, together with the Government of Malawi, UNDP and Rocky Mountain Institute prepared a sustainable energy investment study for Malawi, a country that currently has a very low energy access rate. The study offered a roadmap for the sector to develop and seek 3 billion dollars of investment from a range of sources, to meet Malawi’s national policy goals in electricity and clean cooking, reaching universal energy access by 2030.

The study highlighted the following key messages:

Even as private investment and blended finance grow, development finance will still continue to play a significant role.
Being able to implement quick-win projects can unlock further commercial finance.
There is a range of climate finance sources that are available to vulnerable countries, however, accessing these sources can represent a significant administrative burden.
Capacity building and increased technical assistance remain critical, particularly to improve the pipeline of projects ready for investment.
There are real and perceived risks that make it more difficult and expensive for vulnerable countries such as Malawi to access capital. Governments and development partners must work together to reduce risks through a range of measures.

While this study is specific to Malawi, it can also offer important lessons that other countries can benefit from.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Here at the UN, as we discuss how we can build back better after COVID 19, we see enormous opportunity in developing renewable energy projects in the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. Catalyzing finance is a key to unlocking this potential.

The upcoming High-level Dialogue on Energy, and the Fifth UN conference for Least developed countries, to be held in Doha Qatar in January 2022, provide important platforms to further scale up action.

I thank you for your attention.

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Urgent Action Needed for World’s Vulnerable Countries to Meet Energy Targets by 2030

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:52:00 +0000

benin_solar_electric_light_fund_flickr.jpg

Solar panel in Benin

Solar Electric Light Fund, Flickr

NEW YORK 12 JUNE 2020 – Universal access to sustainable energy remains a major requirement for the world’s most vulnerable countries to gain a foothold in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the latest Tracking SDG7 energy progress report, promising progress toward energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency has been made however efforts are falling well short of the scale required to meet the SDG 7 targets by 2030.

The report stresses that financing for SDG 7 remains uneven and that special attention needs to be given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The report introduces tracking on a new indicator, 7.A.1, on international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean and renewable energy. Although total flows have doubled since 2010, reaching $21.4 billion in 2017, only 12 percent reached the least-developed countries, which are the furthest from achieving the various SDG 7 targets. Only 52% of the people in LDCs have access to electricity, and rural access rates are well below 10% in some countries.

Other important elements of SDG7 also continue to be off track. Almost 3 billion people remained without access to clean cooking in 2017. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of those lacking access increased from 750 million in 2010 to 890 million in 2018. Only 16% of the people in LDCs had access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. In 22 LDCs, mostly in Africa, it was less than 5 per cent.

Without urgent action, LDCs are at risk of not meeting SDG 7 targets by 2030. Sustainable energy should therefore be one of the central thematic topics of the new 10-year programme of action for the LDCs to be adopted at the Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs in 2021.

Ending energy poverty in LDCs will require a radical change of pace, and massive investment in the coming years. The report also argues that despite the extraordinary growth potential for the energy sector in LDCs, these countries rarely benefit from larger financing schemes to the same extent as more prosperous, developing countries.

In the midst of building momentum for sustainable energy, the COVID-19 pandemic is certain to affect the energy transition and progress toward SDG 7 and will further hamper progress by vulnerable countries. Likewise, the crisis is pointing to the urgent need for access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, and modern energy—for hospitals and health facilities to treat patients, for schools to prepare children for the digital economy, for communities to pump clean water, and for people to gain access to information. The full impact of the covid-19 pandemic on energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and the full energy transition remains to be seen.

Photo: Solar panel in Benin. Solar Electric Light Fund, Flickr

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Statement at the High-Level Dialogue on Accelerating Energy Transition in Small Island Developing States to Stimulate Post Pandemic Recovery

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 20:52:00 +0000

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

1 June 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to join you all!

Your high-level dialogue on accelerating energy transition in SIDS to stimulate post-pandemic recovery could not be more relevant and timely.

It truly is an understatement to say that the COVID-19 pandemic more than underscored the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) extrême vulnerability to external shocks.

The pandemic has triggered a vicious cycle and we must make every effort to move this cycle from vicious to virtuous.

Tourism revenues are a major earner for SIDS - the fall is beyond sharp. Remittances keep families going - they have fallen drastically.

Small island economies are likely to experience one of the most pronounced contractions in 2020 and possibly beyond.

The result is a further exacerbation of their vulnerability to economic and climatic shocks.

In this vicious cycle we are in, SIDS face particular challenges. Foremost, there is of course the capacity issue of responding to the immediate health crisis.

We knew about the fragility of their economies and social protection systems. This fragility now runs even deeper and it will be a tremendous challenge to plan for and implement social and economic recovery.

Beyond any doubt, recovery will take some time.

It is now a point where we can either manage if not even muddle through a status quo or make an effort to turn a desolate situation into an opportunity for innovation and transformation.

Excellences, ladies and gentlemen,

A core feature of transformation lies in accelerating the energy transition in SIDS to stimulate post pandemic recovery.

This may be the opportunity to reform complex domestic tax systems on fuel, expand fiscal space and move out from heavily subsidised fossil fuel consumption.

This, combined with decreasing prices of renewables, will lay a strong foundation for an expansion of renewable and sustainable energy. This has potential to trigger cleaner and low-carbon production and consumption bases.

We though must keep in mind that SIDS governments already prior to this crisis faced significant fiscal constraints.

COVID-19 may well be that drop making the glass half empty rather than half full.

Do we really want now to lose hard won gains?

It is more important than ever that the international community is steadfast in its actions to accelerate the clean energy transition in SIDS.

As partners, governments and the international community must work together with the objective to deliver targeted and effective measures to support the peoples of the SIDS.

The peoples of the SIDS cannot be left behind and just bear alone and abandoned the brunt in responding to this unprecedented crisis.

We must continue to explore and advocate for dedicated funds for SIDS, including within the context of the International Financial Institutions.

It will be vitally important to expand access to concessional financing for SIDS to complement domestically financed stimulus packages.

The latter are necessary but not sufficient to deliver on the considerable needs of SIDS during this crisis.

It is also critical that we establish a dedicated debt mechanism for SIDS.

Such mechanism must provide for comprehensive, inclusive and innovative actions for immediate and long-term debt sustainability.

The focus has to be on creating fiscal space for recovery and fostering investments in sustainable development.

The global response to and recovery from COVID must factor in
a SIDS specific approach.

So, let us turn from a vicious to a virtuous circle and give SIDS a chance to emerge from this crisis with cleaner, greener and more resilient societies.

I thank you for your attention.

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Opening Remarks at the 2020 IRENA Assembly

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 15:43:00 +0000

Opening Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

11 January 2020
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I wish to congratulate IRENA for the leadership and vision you show in and for the renewable energy sector.

Thank you for sharing your Annual Report on the Implementation of the work programme and budget for 2018-2019.

You indeed carried out a wide array of activities, worked with a multitude of partners and you have pushed forward the renewable energy agenda.

OHRLLS is the advocate for three groups of vulnerable countries . The LDCs, LLDC and SIDS.

Combined, the groups represent 91 member states. They have a combined population of 1.3 billion people or roughly 15 per cent of the global population.

All countries face several comparable macro development challenges making their their structural transformation highly complex.

The access to sustainable energy is one of their key and shared challenges.

Lack of access to sustainable energy is the norm and this leaves too many unable to transform their economies structurally and move forward in their development path.

The latest data shows that, in 2017, 51% only of the population in LDCs had access to electricity.

This indicator stood at 56% in LLDCs, and an enormous 82% in SIDS.

This data does indeed hide considerable inter- country, inter- regional and above all major urban and rural area inequalities within countries.

For example, in 2016, on average, 75% of the urban population in LDCs had electricity access, compared with only 31% of rural populations.

These gaps are not only limited to electricity. The picture gets worse when we look at access to modern fuels for cooking and heating.

This means that large segments of the population have no access to, are not able to utilise the benefits of modern energy to improve their health, education, income generation and enjoy a fair share in overall social and economic development.

These state of affairs is simply unacceptable.

I firmly believe that if there is one sector where we can bring rapid, life changing transformation to people’s lives, it is in access for all to renewable, modern energy.

A majority of these vulnerable countries are endowed with vast reserves of renewable energy resources.

This base when brought together with access to new technologies and taking advantage of falling prices of renewable energy, offers solutions for gaining energy access.

The key question is how ? How can we ensure that the global momentum around renewable energy reaches also those currently left behind?

We certainly do need stronger partnerships to accelerate the energy transition in vulnerable countries.

This will require partnerships around the massive investments needed now. This will require more rapid action within the next years.

Technological advances continue to generate new solutions and clean, green energy is more affordable and competitive than ever. We must NOW combine what the technological advances already have brought about and continue to do so with increased investments in the least developed countries . We must give them a real opportunity to achieve SDG7 by 2030 and contribute to climate change action.

It is not impossible. We have success stories and best practices.

It is encouraging to see the rapid progress made in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia. They have all electrified at a rate of about 5 percentage points per year since 2010!

Many LDCs have already successfully tapped into using hydropower. The use of solar, wind power and geothermal is also increasing. Notable progress can be recorded in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Myanmar and Rwanda in using off-grid energy solutions serving especially rural areas.

My key message is that SDG7 is within reach. We must have the will and it is high time to deliver.

OHRLLS will not spare efforts in continuing to strongly advocate for and rally support and resources for the vulnerable countries in their energy transition.

Vulnerable countries have and continue to show strong leadership.

At the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit, in September, both LDCs and SIDS put forward initiatives with the objective of accelerating sustainable energy transition with ambitious targets.

It is now the turn of development partners, in the North and South to extend a helping hand. More focus is also needed on how to strengthen private sector engagement in the sustainable energy sector. The private sector is a key partner in the efforts towards realizing sustainable development aspirations and mobilizing required funds.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I look forward to strengthening the various partnerships to ensure that vulnerable countries will not be left behind in their energy transition.

In this regard, OHRLLS recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IRENA to strengthen our collaboration.

To conclude, I stress again the need to move beyond the words and to take immediate action to ensure we expand renewable energy access in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

As a global community we must continue to strengthen our collaborative efforts to support sustainable energy development in vulnerable countries. It is in all our interests - inequality and climate know no borders!

Thank you.

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Remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Accelerating the Energy Transformation in Small Island Developing States Through Renewable Energy

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 21:52:00 +0000

Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

10 January 2020
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I thank Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, for bringing us together at this important meeting.

I also must congratulate IRENA for your continued and strong focus on SIDS.

In the past few years, it is the SIDS which have shown courage, determination and visionary leadership in increasing their share of renewables in their energy mix.

Theirs is a MUST - renewables are a key factor in SIDS relentless strive to counter the already daunting and ever mounting climate crises challenges they face.

Their commitment to provide affordable and universal access to sustainable energy and their contribution to climate action are not words. It is an action commitment.

But they now and more urgently than ever need strong partners to support, to supplement their efforts in accelerating the energy transition.

As soon as I took up office, it was evident that OHRLLS has to stand ready to support SIDS in their energy transition.

So, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IRENA to strengthen the collaboration between our two offices in September last year.

My presence here also is testimony to our determination to strengthen this nascent collaboration. Together, we must build on this momentum through to the next phase of implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to look back for a short moment.

2019 provided several opportunities to discuss the global challenges SIDS face.

This ranged from the Climate Action Summit, the HLPF on Sustainable Development, the SAMOA Pathway Midterm Review to the COP25. The latter fell short of what we had hoped for.

But, in all these events, the representatives of SIDS spoke with a common voice and drew all our attention to their development concerns.

The bottom line remains that small islands are on the front line of climate change. It is their new mitigation commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement that puts SIDS on the forefront of ambitious climate action. This includes many SIDS pledging to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030.

The Secretary- General, the UN demand stronger and faster actions to respond to what has escalated into a climate emergency.

OHRLLS main mission is to advocate and OHRLLS will continue to advocate for climate resilience in SIDS.

The SIDS are not dealing with projected, theoretical dimensions projected by climate science. They live is in real time, now and disasters keep piling up.

For them, climate resilience equates with disaster resilience. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Last year, we saw one of the strongest hurricanes in the history of Atlantic storms hit the Bahamas. This caused unprecedented loss of life and serious physical damages. One factor that is key to making a difference is what we are here to discuss: energy.

We are all familiar with the damage caused to SIDS by their fossil fuel economy dependence over and above the climate and pollution impacts: vulnerability to volatile market prices, prohibitively high costs of doing business, disadvantage in integrating into the global economy, and the world’s highest electricity prices.

The old way of doing things is absolutely unsustainable for SIDS – socially, economically, and environmentally.

It has long been recognized that renewable energy delivers socio-economic wellbeing.

Access to renewable technologies continues to decline in cost. Domestic generation will revolutionise the affordability of power, improving demand efficiency and expanding access to the poorest.

Renewables can reach the most remote islands and off-grid solutions can reach islands with small, dispersed populations.

This means more than immediate energy access that is sustainable - it means access to modern communications in remote areas, stronger household savings, greater business competitiveness, access to clean cooking…

In short, it is a win- win on all fronts.

Ladies and gentlemen,

SIDS have enormous potential for the development of renewable energy systems from diverse natural resources already available to them. But, with size and capacity limitations, it can be difficult to turn potential into reality.

What is a MUST now is for SIDS and partners to come together to forge practical pathways forward.

We need more focus on capacity building, sources of finance and determining the optimal mix of renewable sources and energy storage capacity for least-cost, reliable systems.

We also must ensure the energy transition translates into socioeconomic development, we must address productive use planning. This means planning for demand alongside supply and creating new energy driven business models. When supply and demand for renewable energy can sustain each other, this is how we create and nurture a sustainable transition.

SIDS cannot make the transition to 100% renewables without large emitters meeting their obligations for climate finance though. We must come through on the 100 Billion per year pledged for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries by this year 2020, as agreed in Copenhagen in 2009 - eleven years ago!

Development partners and SIDS must work cooperatively to create enabling environments for private sector investment in renewable energy projects. My Office launched the SIDS Global Business Network Forum in Samoa in 2014.

One of the focus areas of the Network is renewable energy and the network provides a platform for existing and new members of the SIDS GBN to meet and exchange best practices and to build partnerships. I encourage new partners, in particular from the private sector to join the Network, and to take part in the SIDS GBN Forum at Our Oceans Conference in Palau this August.

As a global community we must continue to strengthen our collaborative efforts to support sustainable energy development in Small Island Developing States. Let's stop talking. Let's just do it!

Thank you.

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Malawi Has an Opportunity to Achieve 100% Sustainable Energy Access by 2030

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 17:30:00 +0000

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Malawi Validation Workshop and Launch

UNOHRLLS

LILONGWE, 9 October 2019 – Malawi, a least developed country (LDC), has an opportunity to achieve 100% access to electricity by 2030 according to the Malawi Sustainable Energy Study launched today in the country’s capital.

With a population of 17.6 million people, the African nation lags behind much of the world on energy access with just 11 percent of its population having access to grid electricity. And for those who are connected to grid power, supply remains largely unreliable. Accelerating energy access has clear benefits through direct impacts on poverty eradication, climate change, health, water and economic transformation.

The study will guide the Malawian Government, development partners, investors and the private sector to converge on a shared agenda to unlock investment in the energy sector. Moreover, the study makes the case for how Malawi can achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 — the international community’s commitment to provide universal access to modern, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy by 2030. The study estimates that Malawi will need to mobilise $3 billion by 2030 to close gaps and reach its full energy potential.

Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Chimwemwe Gloria Banda, Chief Director for Energy Affairs in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining said: “As the world is undergoing profound change across global energy markets, with energy transformation growing stronger every year, Malawi should not be left behind. Therefore, increasing investments in sustainable energy production and supply will help secure an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for all Malawians while working towards meeting targets set under Sustainable Development Goals.”

Taking her turn at the launch, Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Director of the 51�Թ� Office of the High-Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States said: “Development needs energy and energy is the lifeblood of every economy. This study represents an important tool for Malawi to secure the sustainable energy future it aspires for.”

She added: “While Malawi is making significant efforts to achieve SDG7, it cannot do this alone. This is why we are also urging the international community to support these efforts. This study provides development partners with the opportunity to assess and align their development assistance with Malawi’s national energy efforts.”

It is estimated that $2.5 billion in the power sector and up to $600 million for cooking and forestry will be needed by 2030. This investment represents a tripling of generation capacity to 1200 megawatts while adding 1.2 million new grid connections.

Equally important, the study presents a scenario with savings on energy investment of $500 million by 2030 and avoidance of 20 MT of CO₂ emissions compared to previous plans. This will be a significant investment for a country with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $5.4 billion in 2016.

Raising the necessary funding from a range of sources can drive rapid change in the energy sector the study finds. This will include the commissioning of key projects, including solar PV plants which are currently in the pipeline to create a positive feedback loop to de-risk the sector and crowd in further funding. Public funding as well as subsidies will also be required while government guarantees and climate finance are expected to leverage funding from commercial sources.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Maria Jose Torres, said insufficient and unreliable electricity is hampering social and economic development in Malawi, and that there is need for a concerted effort to address this.

“A lack of energy access across Malawi continues to put a brake on the pace of progress and our collective efforts to make lasting improvements in people’s lives through better health and education services, higher agricultural productivity, and broad economic transformation in rural areas and among Malawi’s growing cities and industries,” said Torres. “We, therefore, welcome the insights from the study to ensure practical action that accelerates access to clean and reliable energy across Malawi.”

Through the Malawian Sustainable Energy for All Action Agenda, the Government of Malawi recognises the central role energy plays in socioeconomic development and is already working hard to attract investors, providing a range of guarantees and exchange rate protections as well as implementing policies to reduce perceived risks. The new study is seen as a major asset outlining the means to accelerate progress towards sustainable energy for all Malawians.

The Malawi Sustainable Energy Study was compiled by the Rocky Mountain Institute and jointly commissioned by the Government of Malawi’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining and the 51�Թ� Office of the High-Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). Support for the study was also provided by the 51�Թ� in Malawi.

The study can be found at: https://bit.ly/31VP63e

For more details about this event, please visit here.

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First Column

Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study: Validation Workshop and Launch

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:42:00 +0000

Wednesday, 09 October 2019 - 9:00am to 12:15pm

BACKGROUND

This workshop marks the finalization of the Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study. The project was launched in February 2019 to articulate how Malawi can attract and generate the required investment to achieve SDG7, and leapfrog to clean energy, with a view to contributing to the objectives of the Paris Agreement and holding the increase in the global average temperature to “well below 2°C”.

Over the past 9 months, Rocky Mountain Institute has supported the preparation of the Investment Study in close collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining. The study proposes a clear roadmap for achieving Malawi’s goals: increasing supply of and access to reliable, affordable energy, as a platform for industrial and socio-economic development.

The Investment Study makes a detailed assessment of the power sector and cooking solutions, identifying and prioritizing projects to create a pathway that will achieve Malawi’s goals. A least-cost analysis of potential generation scenarios informs an optimal approach, that reaches targets at the least cost to government and consumers.

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Other

Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study Briefing Note

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LDCs

UN-OHRLLS and IRENA Agree to Support Renewable Energy Growth in World’s Most Climate Vulnerable Countries

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 20:52:00 +0000

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UN-OHRLLS USG Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu and IRENA DG Francesco La Camera.

UNOHRLLS

NEW YORK – 27 September, 2019: The 51�Թ� Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have today underscored their commitment to strengthen cooperation aimed at advancing renewable energy in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in New York today by the UN-OHRLLS Under-Secretary-General Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu and IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. Strengthened collaboration between the two organisations contributes to global efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the context of renewable energy.

“SDG7 on sustainable energy is of critical importance to the achievement of Agenda 2030, if not all the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu. “The least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states are at risk of being left behind, together in partnership we can make faster progress. We must close energy gaps and support countries transitioning to more sustainable and renewable energy sources by 2030. Countries cannot achieve this alone. We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with IRENA to combine our expertise and comparative advantages to support countries to achieve their renewable energy goals.”

“The energy transformation brings significant opportunity to developed and developing countries alike,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. “Renewables are not only our most effective response to rising emissions, but they are also an engine of low-carbon development, supporting energy access, energy security and climate resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries. This partnership bolsters the efforts of both organisations to achieve SDG7 and the wider sustainable development goals.”

The two organisations will collaborate on activities to support LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to build renewables-based energy systems, close the energy access gaps experienced by these groups of countries and harness the socio-economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy.

LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS consist of 91 countries with a total population of 1.1 billion. Access to energy in these vulnerable countries remains a major challenge. About half of the people in the world without electricity live in LDCs. In 2016, the proportion of the population in LDCs with access to electricity was 44.8 per cent. In LLDCs it was 53.1 per cent, and in SIDS it was 76.3 per cent.

Ending energy poverty in these groups of vulnerable countries and ensuring that no country or person is left behind is critical to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Renewable Energy

Statement on the High-level Briefing to LDCs Group on Accelerating Sustainable Recovery with Renewable Energy

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

14 October 2020 New York, USA

Statement at the SDG Business Forum 2020: Catalyzing Finance and Investment for the Achievement of SDG 7

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

23 September 2020 New York, USA

Urgent Action Needed for World’s Vulnerable Countries to Meet Energy Targets by 2030

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Statement at the High-Level Dialogue on Accelerating Energy Transition in Small Island Developing States to Stimulate Post Pandemic Recovery

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

1 June 2020 New York, USA

Opening Remarks at the 2020 IRENA Assembly

Opening Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

11 January 2020 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Accelerating the Energy Transformation in Small Island Developing States Through Renewable Energy

Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

10 January 2020 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Malawi Has an Opportunity to Achieve 100% Sustainable Energy Access by 2030

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Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study: Validation Workshop and Launch

BACKGROUND

DOCUMENTS

UN-OHRLLS and IRENA Agree to Support Renewable Energy Growth in World’s Most Climate Vulnerable Countries

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14 October 2020
New York, USA

23 September 2020
New York, USA

1 June 2020
New York, USA

11 January 2020
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

10 January 2020
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates