As part of the preparation towards the High-Level Dialogue on Energy, Ministerial-level Thematic forums were organized in the month of  June. The forums brought together key stakeholders to share experiences and mobilize action on the road to the Dialogue in September 2021. The forums brought together government ministers, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders to showcase solutions and partnerships on five priority themes. The themes are: Energy access, Energy Transitions, Enabling SDGs through Inclusive, Just Energy Transitions, Innovation, Technology and Data, and Finance and Investment, in support of SDG7 achievement.

 

Launch of the thematic reports  SDG7

At the end of the Ministerial forums, the five thematic reports were launched with the Technical Working Groups that developed thematic reports sharing key recommendations for action needed on each of the five priority themes. These five reports make up a global roadmap for achieving affordable and clean energy for all by 2030, on the road to net-zero.

Some of the key  recommendations from the reports are:

  • Energy Access

The report highlights the need to align energy policy and investment with energy transition pathways that accomplish universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030. It calls for member states to prioritize and coordinate political commitments and financing to accelerate access to clean cooking, build synergies with electrification efforts, and position universal access to energy.

The report also calls for a people-centered effort to deliver universal energy which takes into consideration the contextual needs-based approach to energy delivery. Knowledge exchange, capacity-building and partnership-building are also highlighted as having a  critical role in enhancing energy access.

ACCESS contributed to the development of the thematic report as a member of the Technical Working Group on Energy Access, providing CSO views and recommendations. The report on energy access can be found here.

  • Energy Transition

The report on energy transition highlights the need for rapidly scaling up the deployment of available energy transition solutions. It also highlights the need to address the barriers to adoption of energy efficiency while promoting behaviour change. This will be catapulted by investments in infrastructure as well as the right policies to enable the energy transition.

Financing is also highlighted as critical to the coal phase-out by 2040, as there is a need to redirect finances to the transition which will help in reducing emissions as well as improving health and fiscal benefits. For a successful energy transition, a participatory approach is critical, where all stakeholders are engaged in the planning processes including the private sector and marginalized communities. This will also be reflected through integrated and inclusive energy planning where decarbonization targets are articulated at national, and at sub-national and city levels.

The full report on energy transition can be found  here

  • Enabling SDGs through Inclusive, Just Energy Transitions

This thematic report highlights the place of energy in catalyzing the achievement of the other sustainable development goals. A just and inclusive energy transition will contribute to enhanced human well-being, health, and capabilities. It will also increase resilience and drive innovation towards a sustainable society at all levels, while also driving huge investments.

Although the transition pathways will vary based on the individual needs of countries and regions, all pathways must be just and inclusive in order to accelerate collective actions to deliver on the SDGs and the Paris Agreement and to ensure the ‘future we want’. This report, therefore, calls for member states to consider access to sustainable energy as a key element in the achievement of all SDGs. Hence the need to integrate SDGs as a guiding framework for the energy transition in their national plans. The full report can be found here.

ACCESS has been holding a series of dialogues on the just energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa leading up to COP 26 and will continue to do so.

  • Innovation, Technology, and Data

Currently, there are significant barriers in both policy, technology and financial aspects which affect innovation and delivery on energy. The report highlights the need to align innovation and the global and national targets. For this to be achieved, home-based innovation should be supported, funded, and scaled by governments and partners.

There is a need to create demand by enhancing awareness of the new technologies at the end-user level. Data systems will enhance this by informing energy planning to inform policy development which will curtail any disparities and enhance reach for communities.

The full report can be accessed here.

  • Finance and Investment

In order to achieve SDG 7 and net-zero, the report calls for urgent and enhanced clean energy investment and finance. The report also calls for an increased focus on the least-developed countries and universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030 in addition to the scale-up of financial flows. It further highlights the need for an inclusive and sustainable recovery and financial resource mobilization for developed and developing markets. There is also a need for alignment of finance flows with the Paris Agreement, SDG 7, and net-zero objectives. This will also follow the proper alignment of financial markets in developing countries to ensure energy projects are attractive to investors.

You  can  read  more   about  the  thematic reports  here  can be accessed here

ACCESS Coalition Energy  Compact

The launch of the reports culminated in the development of voluntary commitments on accelerating action for SDG 7. These commitments are outlined as ‘Energy compacts’ and will be advanced by both state and non-state actors globally. The Energy Compacts will articulate commitments made by stakeholders on the actions they will take to further support SDG7 implementation.

ACCESS will call upon members for joint development of an energy compact that will respond to policy gaps and energy needs of energy-poor communities in accordance with its mission.