Monday, 23 April 2012 11:12
GERES news -
News in brief
A global forum for a global challenge
Partners of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative launched in 2012 by the United Nations, GERES joins now the Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP). GERES is spearheading its effort, alongside other actors, with the purpose of providing universal access to modern energy services by 2030 in a world where 1.3 billion people still have no electricity.
Global LEAP is a voluntary forum that has been launched in the context of the international year of sustainable energy for all. It aims to share knowledge and best practices between various actors : governments, development partners and the private sector. As a member, GERES supports the creation of commercial markets in the sector of clean energy and energy efficiency.
On 26 April 2012, the United Foundation, the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Energy and TERI University will officially launch Global LEAP in London where energy ministers from the 23 Clean Energy Ministerial governments, notably France, will have gathered. In parallel, a consultation of civil society actors will be organized in London the same day.
As a LEAP member, GERES share a commitment to the following guiding principles :
- The goal of energy access for all by 2030 is achievable. Access to modern energy exists along a continuum that begins at the household level with basic energy services related to lighting, cooking, and communication, and also includes energy for economically productive agricultural and commercial activities.
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- Affordable, quality-assured energy products and services are important to support socioeconomic development and improved quality of life for the more than one billion people worldwide who lack access to modern energy.
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- Delivery approaches should strive to be self-sustaining, which means that subsidies—when used at all—should be carefully tailored to focus on those markets or market segments that are not immediately commercially viable (the poorest and most remote areas) and designed to minimize distortions to commercial markets.
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- There is a need to build capacity and to develop and evaluate alternative business models aimed at delivering modern energy access to a diverse set of end users.
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- There is a need to integrate energy efficiency principles into the design and implementation of all projects, because the energy saved can reduce costs (thereby increasing the affordability of energy access) and free up additional energy for productive purposes.
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In the context of the international year of sustainable energy for all in 2012, GERES joins other international actors to reach the objective of sustainable energy for all by 2030. GERES commits to support in priority the most vulnerable populations and to share experience and information with the members of the Energy Practioner Network.
GERES alos joins the Global Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) which aims to equip 100 million households with improved cookstoves by 2020. GERES contributes to reach this objective with the project of improved cookstoves in Cambodia, one of the most important operations led in developing countries. In addition, GERES created the Global Stove Program supported by FFEM to disseminate improved cookstoves in Southeast Asia and Africa.
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Photo : Passive solar house in Afghanistan © GERES
