Smarter thinking can offer quicker results on global goals of universal energy access

Forum closes with sense of urgency to get world back on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7

LISBON, May 3, 2018: Faster progress is possible on global energy goals, but only with greater political ambition and discipline, as the key takeaway of delegates at the Sustainable Energy for All Forum, which closes today in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Forum drew more than 800 participants from over 100 countries for the two-day event hosted by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), which acts as a catalyst to shine a light on what it will take to reach speed and scale in bringing energy solutions to improve people’s lives. The Forum acts as a springboard for the UN stock take on Sustainable Development Goal 7 in July, where progress on achieving universal energy access and clean cooking will be measured during the High-Level Political Forum.

During the event, key themes that emerged included how more developing countries are seizing the opportunity of energy efficiency by putting it as a central pillar to energy strategies to manage the energy demand they need to meet. This new leadership approach is already delivering faster progress to targets and how ‘smarter ’thinking’ is changing the narrative – moving from talking about electrons, it’s about the delivery of smart energy that supports healthcare, education, jobs and growth.

In her remarks, Rachel Kyte, CEO of SEforALL, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, said: “This is a reality check. We need to look to the future. We’re beginning to talk about energy in a much smarter way; energy is the story behind peoples live. Without energy, that live story is not possible.”

With just over additional 20 side-events planned tomorrow, convening business, investors, philanthropies and energy access leaders together, the Forum momentum will continue to support the raised ambition from all SEforALL’s partners – the global movement that shares a sense of urgency around pushing forward the energy transition. Kyte added: “This is the revolution. You are the revolutionaries”

This was reflected by just under 10 announcements being made at the Forum, including the official launch of the Shine Campaign. The campaign will unite partners from the faith, development and philanthropic sectors to commit to mobilizing new forms of capital, scaling resources and generating momentum to achieve universal access to clean, affordable and reliable energy by 2030. New commitments from IKEA Foundation, Wallace Global Fund, the World Evangelical Alliance and Brahma Kumaris were announced as part of the launch.

Businesses also showed continued support to investing into energy access, with CEOs and executives from ABB, ENGIE, MasterCard and Schneider Electric, all participating. EDP CEO, Antiono Mexia, was a Forum key note speaker, referencing the company’s recent three-year goal of investing €12 million in access to energy companies operating in Africa, complemented by philanthropic activities worth €1 million that will benefit 200,000 people.

SEforALL also announced two new Delivery Partnerships with Total S.A. and Danfoss. The partnership with Danfoss will focus on the new Cooling for All initiative, the District Energy Systems Accelerator and work to continue action on energy efficiency that supports SDG7 goals, including the benefits of energy efficient solutions and the energy saving potential of existing best in class cooling technology. Total will support several areas of SEforALL’s work, including its Electrification Accelerator network, Cooling for All and expanding global access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. SEforALL will also work with the company to engage the power industry to achieve stronger integration of both grid and off-grid electrification projects.

The Islamic Development Bank singed a partnership agreement with Sustainable Energy for All to launch the Middle East Hub to be hosted at the Islamic Development Bank Headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  The Middle East Hub will raise awareness at the national and regional level of the challenges, constrains and opportunities available while achieving the three core objectives of SDG7. The Hub will serve as a platform for the Middle East region for technology and knowledge transfer in light of the major milestones achieved in providing renewable energy solutions at competitive prices and high reliability.

For a full agenda, please visit the Forum website here.

For more information, follow @SEforALLorg and #SEforAllForum.