01 March 2007 - On 27 February, REN21 staged a discussion on how to
advance renewable energy through case studies, voluntary commitments,
and review of progress. Timely for the ongoing deliberations at the
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IMP) for CSD15, numerous
delegates and observers seized this chance to engage in a rich informal
exchange about possible options. The side event was registered by the
German Ministry for the Environment.
Li Junfeng, Co-Chair of the REN21 Steering Committee, opened and
moderated the event.
Paul Suding, Head of the REN21 Secretariat, introduced the
subject and put the three instruments in perspective regarding
action-oriented outcomes of international conferences: the matrix of
case studies is a source of lessons learnt from past activities;
voluntary commitments programmes announce future action; and a review
arrangement determines progress made. In relation to the CSD15 session,
the matrix is already part of the process, a new basket of voluntary
commitments may be set up, and a review arrangement may be endorsed.
Ralph Wahnschafft and Fred Soltau of UN DESA presented the
CSD Matrix.
This information tool provides information on the practical experience
made by governments, UN agencies and major groups in the implementation
of policies and projects. Today, the Matrix contains a growing number of
case studies in the four areas of the current CSD cycle, i.e.
sustainable energy, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere,
and climate change. The International Action Programme of the Bonn
renewables 2004 Conference is also referenced in the Matrix database.
The Matrix has been set up to share lessons learnt and best practices.
Philippe Lempp of the REN21 Secretariat presented the work
undertaken by REN21 in following up on the 197 renewable energy
commitments submitted in the Bonn
International Action
Programme. With most actions reported as being successfully
implemented, this work has proven that voluntary commitment programmes
can be feasible, efficient and meaningful. The global impacts on climate
change, energy access and other indicators are significant. Voluntary
programmes may therefore be regarded as a "third way" for advancing
renewable energy, especially where multilaterally agreed binding targets
are hard to agree on, while unspecific declarations of intent are of
limited value.
Through this work, REN21 has gained some useful insight on how to design
effective voluntary commitment programmes, and on how to undertake
effective review thereof. As a result, REN21 now disposes of a rich
database of case studies, available on its website, along with a
document that contains some
practical recommendations for voluntary commitment programmes.
Ellen von Zitzewitz of the German Federal Environment Ministry
presented current efforts to establish a global renewable energy review
arrangement in the CSD context. Initiated by a group of six JREC Member
governments and now backed by a much larger and growing number of
countries, this review arrangement is intended to support the
implementation of paragraph 20e of the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation to "substantially increase the global share of renewable
energy sources..., recognizing the role of national and voluntary
regional targets as well as initiatives". Building on existing
initiatives, the review arrangement should collect and report global
data and information on renewable energy policies and programmes,
analyse global information, and develop recommendations for
consideration by relevant decision-making bodies. In order to translate
this call into real action, a number of options regarding the
institutional setup are being discussed at the IPM and elsewhere.
After these introductory presentations, an informal discussion took
place between the participants, who came from governments, UN
agencies, and other institutions and stakeholders.
Some participants underlined the value of voluntary commitments to "breathe
life" into the agreements reached at United Nations negotiations, which
often remain quite general between "divided nations". Taken together,
the tools presented could complement a negotiated outcome in a
three-step-process, leading from exchange of case studies/lessons learnt
(1) to specific commitments (2), and review thereof (3).
Some discussants suggested that a new commitment basket should also
include energy efficiency activities, though others said this might
prove more difficult to review than renewables, and chances of success
were better with a more focused approach in the beginning.
Regarding the suggested review arrangement, opinions differed as to "how
far" the work should go. While some held a simple review would be of
limited value, others felt that recommendations run the risk of crossing
the "fine line" between what could and what could not be done. There
was, however, a widespread understanding the review arrangement should
provide practical information - including contacts as well as technical
and financial aspects - in order to enable and encourage scaling up of
successful approaches and actions.
Regarding the institutional setup of such an arrangement, it was
suggested that UNEP and UNDP might serve on the steering level, with
REN21 and other partners working on the implementation level. With
regard to UN Energy - also considered by some people to play a major
role - questions were raised as to whether this institution could take
on such kind of work at all, as it is a coordination arrangement between
UN agencies and programmes, without funding and organisational structure.
Some highlighted the importance of deciding this issue based on
institutional capacity and resources.
Some participants mentioned the need for coordination between the matrix
and existing review and information initiatives undertaken already by
different networks and organisations.
Wrapping up, Paul Suding expressed the hope that the event would be
useful in exchanging ideas and developing a productive outcome of CSD15
in May.
