Making the case for sustainable energy at the United Nations

null Representatives of the youth caucus of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable at attending the preparatory meetings for the policy session of the Commission. Below is the statement made at the UN Plenary on Monday morning…
***
Children and youth, as the future generations, do not wish to inherit a toxic, radioactive, dirty, and carbon-driven world, and call on the CSD to take action to guarantee that we have a future to look forward to. Providing more than 6 billion people with energy will require concrete action to ensure that we meet the needs of the poor and not only industry.

We firmly believe that renewable energy is the key to a sustainable future. Small-scale renewable energy projects offer a sustainable solution to energy access, providing local, context-sensitive solutions that preserve the environment. Youth have been essential partners in implementing small-scale projects; such contributions need further support.

A clear, universally recognized definition of sustainable energy must be agreed on, which must take into consideration principles stated in the JPOI. It is -evident that nuclear energy and “clean” fossil fuels are not viable options for truly sustainable development; subsidies supporting their exploitation must be phased out and used to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Global climate change is the most pressing issue of our generation. We need immediate action; we cannot rely on partnerships and short-term political maneuvering. Successful measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change demand innovative policy solutions encompassing multiple sectors.

We strongly believe that corporate social responsibility and accountability must be emphasized; while the JPOI highlighted this need, it was not mentioned at CSD14. A framework for business and industry to operate responsibly is needed, and it is needed now.

Cleaner production should be matched with sustainable consumption. Market approaches cannot ensure the best economic allocation of resources alone. Subsidies, when required, need to be used to secure access to energy for the poor.

Children and youth want healthy air. Pressing air pollution issues include the need for a collaborative and functional international policy framework. The costs of unsustainable transportation should be internalized. Fiscal policy should be used to promote public transportation, fuel efficiency, and multiple user initiatives.

There is a lot work to do between now and May.

Measurable targets and timelines are required. While achieving targets needs cooperation from all stakeholders, government accountability must also be stressed.

Given its potential for change, we insist that the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development be heavily emphasized at CSD15.

Recalling UN General Assembly 60/2, the inclusion of youth delegates in the international decision-making process should be facilitated. Governments must fulfill their commitment to include representation of youth.

About Juan

Juan Hoffmaister, originally from Costa Rica, is active young leader working to bring the environmental and development agenda together. He formerly served as youth advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and has represented youth perspectives on environmental negotiations worldwide. His work has been featured by NPR and other media outlets, and has recently completed a Watson Fellowship meeting comity leaders from across 4 continents responding to climate-induced disasters and water stress around the world through community-based adaptation. He has been an active advocate in UN negotiations since 2005, and he believes that the industrialized nations have the responsibility of helping the poor and vulnerable cope with the impacts of our changing climates, and he is currently working with youth from around the world in creating a new international agreement to keep the planet cool. On his spare time, he enjoys diving, reading, and drinking coffee. More @ ChangingClimates.info

6 Responses to “Making the case for sustainable energy at the United Nations”

Feed for this Entry Trackback Address

1 R Margolis Feb 26th, 2007 at 8:28 pm

I went to the EIA website (www.eia.doe.gov) and plugged some numbers. To get the current populations of China, India, and the African continent to 25% of the US per capita electric capacity (Switzerland and Japan each are about 60%) it would require an additional 2.3 TW (over 300 Three Gorges Dams). To generate such a high amount of electricity from small-scale renewable sources sounds quite a challenge. Does the UN document discuss how this high of an energy demand can be met by small-scale technologies? I ask honestly as the numbers were truly staggering.
2 mogmaar Feb 27th, 2007 at 1:10 am

I agree that the question should not be avoided. I’d like to point out that estimates based on US use are probably unrealistic in anyone’s estimation. But using consumption levels from Europe (roughly 1/2 US levels) still leaves us with the need for 150 three gorges dams worth of power.

It seems the sheer number of resources that would go into making the PV cells, wind turbines and hydro generators is staggering, let alone the capital and policy needed to make them.
3 afewerkidagnew Feb 27th, 2007 at 1:37 am

The young generation are the future of this world and governments and United Nations should create opportunities to train and educate the youth in order to help them shape their destiny.

Employment of young women and men at the decision making body of the United Nations help to get on the job training for the young generation in action. The young generation should pressure their own governments to pressure the United Nation to create a better employment and education opportunities for the young generation.

Sincerely,

Afewerki Dagnew
4 R Margolis Feb 27th, 2007 at 6:33 am

I used 25% of the US per capita as that is assuming the developing world somehow is twice as efficient as Japan or Switzerland. Rechecking the numbers, the 2.3 TW is about 100 Three Gorges (the dam will produce about 20 GW). Sorry for the error.

Still, the scale of the power needs makes my head spin…
5 Juan Hoffmaister Feb 27th, 2007 at 4:35 pm

I have been meaning to respond all day, but it has been a long day of meetings. i should clarify that the particular focus of our work right now is the issue of access, particularly for the rural areas of the world. Although i do not think that we should promote nuclear and other ‘clean’ fossil fuels, i understand why some countries are thinking of them as the only solution to energy needs (’its how we did it before, we should keep doing the same’). But, a responsible energy portfolio should not concentrate on those technologies, like some are arguing right now. Also, if you look at the Global Energy report published by the IEA for the G8 summit last year (its 400 pages long, and must be read with lots of caffeine), you will see that the mix energy scenarios show us that there is plenty to be gained improving energy efficiency and using the other array of renewable energy sources -including hydro-. So, yes, banning nuclear and clean fossil fuels is far from what we can do right now, but if we ask for 50% percent, we will get 5%… Thus, we shall keep asking for the full prize
6 R Margolis Feb 28th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

I understand the strategy, but if the proposal (install at least 2.3 TW using solar, wind, small head hydro, etc) doesn’t address the scale issue, credibility of the plan may suffer. Either large hydro, carbon sequestration, or another large scale energy source needs to be in the picture. If the package is complete, would it be more compelling?