Developing Countries On Track to Guarantee Sustainable Energy for All

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UNITED NATIONS, Sep 20 2012 (IPS) - In times of growing humanitarian and environmental challenges, exacerbated by the changing weather patterns, the world can still learn something from South-South development experience.

“Energy and Climate Change: Inclusive Partnerships for Sustainable Development” will be the theme of the 2012 Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo, an initiative by the U.N. Development Programme’s (UNDP) Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, to be held in Vienna from Nov. 19-23.

Hosted by the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the fifth edition of the event will bring together high-level representatives from governments, U.N. agencies, the private sector as well as other development partners.

“We have 1.3 to 1.6 billion people without access to electricity,” said Kandeh K. Yumkella, director-general of UNIDO.

“Lack of energy is a major social problem. It is quite clear that without access to reliable, affordable energy you can not have structural change, economic growth, wealth creation and therefore you can not reduce poverty,” he added.

The 2012 GSSD Expo represents a unique forum for sharing and discussing best practices as well as showcasing Southern innovative and smart solutions and strategies in achieving sustainable development and energy for all.

Moreover, it provides a blueprint for Southern countries and their development partners to strengthen their capacities in dealing with the climate-related challenges and poverty eradication.

Yiping Zhou, director of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, told reporters it was necessary to ensure that those countries contributed to each others’ development agendas, as well as the importance of triangular cooperation.

As for the Expo, he said the main goal of the newly formed United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation would be to facilitate the participation of the more than 600 expected attendees, who would represent more than 20 United Nations agencies, over 30 member states, and a large number of private sector businesses.

The event was unique in that it was funded collectively by all its participants, all of whom “bring themselves to the table”, he said. “We expect them to bring solutions,” he added. “We need solutions, and solutions are in the South.”

Ambassador John W. Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda and chair of the General Assembly’s High Level Committee on South-South Cooperation said the new U.N. Office for South-South Cooperation was a major step forward.

He said that from the perspective of a small island developing State, it might not make financial sense to move towards certain renewable energy sources.

For instance, while Antigua and Barbuda enjoyed much sunshine, its 80,000 residents already had access to an existing energy grid, and the incentive to move towards something more expensive was “not there”.

On technology transfer, he said most requests came at the Government level while technology in Northern countries resided mostly in the private sector, he pointed out. “It’s not going to be charitable.”

Yumkella said China is the biggest market for wind and solar power. “Thanks to China the cost of solar energy has dropped almost four-five times over the last three-four years. That’s how the energy revolution took place,” he added.

“And Brazil has already 78 percent of electricity supply from alternative clean energy,” he added.

South-South cooperation was created in response to growing need of expertise exchange between southern nations and serves today as a key tool in addressing the challenges faced by developing countries in all fields of development, ranging from economy, politics, to culture, environment and technology.

The South’s strong economic performance has enabled Southern countries to make significant progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with particular focus on sustainable development and the universal access to modern energy services by 2030.

“South-South cooperation has the potential to balance growth and equity on a global scale,” said secretary general Ban Ki-moon in his remarks on the United Nations Day of South-South Cooperation earlier this month.

“The rapid spread of information technology has dramatically increased connectivity and networking throughout the South, creating enormous opportunities for sharing of experience, knowledge and good practices that can boost development. South-South cooperation holds great potential for even greater sharing of expertise in areas such as education, health, energy and food security,” he went on to say.