Portuguese-speaking ministers vow to “make sustainable energy for all a reality”

Estoril, Portugal - Energy ministers from the world’s Portuguese-speaking countries have endorsed the UN’s Decade of Sustainable Energy for All with an official launch and a statement of intent to “make sustainable energy for all a reality”. The nine-member Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) held its first-ever ministerial meeting on energy in the Portuguese town of Estoril on June 23, pledging to strengthen mutual cooperation and encourage the sustainable and inclusive development of the energy sector, in order to improve energy security and ensure universal access to sustainable energy services. “We are all determined to act to make sustainable energy for all a reality and, through this, help to eradicate poverty and lead to sustainable development and global prosperity,” the ministers said in an official declaration. The ministers underlined the importance of the proposed Sustainable Development Goal on energy (SDG7) within the post-2015 development agenda, and the value of the SEforALL initiative’s Global Tracking Framework to help implement this. The Decade was formally launched for the Portuguese-speaking countries at a special session of the First Conference on Energy for Development in the CPLP on June 24, attended by Timor-Leste’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Alfredo Pires, and the Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Murade Murargy. “The work promoted by SEforALL, namely on country-level actions and high-impact opportunities, can play a very important role,” the launch statement said. “The United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (2014-2024) is a unique opportunity for everyone to come together to act.” Noting the significant energy investment mobilised under SEforALL, as highlighted at the second annual SEforALL Forum in New York in May, the statement said it was “very important” that CPLP governments work with SEforALL to ensure the enabling conditions and favourable regulatory framework that are needed to attract such funding to Portuguese-speaking countries. The launch was co-organised by the Lusophone Renewable Energy Association (ALER), which will work as a focal point for action towards the SEforALL goals in the Portuguese-speaking countries. The full text of the launch statement for the Decade in Portuguese-speaking countries can be read here in English and here in Portuguese.