14 June 2017: In an effort to explore ways to accelerate the global transition to a sustainable energy system, energy ministers from 85 countries adopted a Ministerial Statement on access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, identifying specific actions to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Ministerial Statement was adopted at the conclusion of the Energy Ministerial Conference held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 11 June 2017, under the theme ‘Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Energy.’ In the Statement, ministers, inter alia: express support for the development of national sustainable energy action plans aligned with future energy needs, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement; take note of Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish an international center for green technology and investment ‘Future Energy’ in Astana; support the development and dissemination of internationally-recognized minimum energy performance standards in all sectors; and pledge to participate on a voluntary basis in the development of methods for public data collection, and the gathering and dissemination of data and indicators on energy for sustainable development.

The Ministers also commit to: participate in international dialogue on technology and energy policy; and promote access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The Ministerial Statement recognizes that energy is “the golden thread that weaves throughout the 2030 Agenda,” and contributes to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action). [Ministerial Statement: Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy] [ESCAP Press Release on Ministerial Statement]

The Eighth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development aimed to enhance the understanding of sustainable energy and possible policy drivers to achieve a common goal on sustainable energy, promote policy dialogue and provide awareness raising of different outcomes.

The Energy Ministerial Conference was part of the Eighth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, which convened in Astana from 11-14 June 2017. Held against the backdrop of EXPO 2017 ‘Future Energy,’ taking place from 10 June to 10 September 2017 in Astana, the Forum aimed to enhance the understanding of sustainable energy and possible policy drivers to achieve a common goal on sustainable energy, promote policy dialogue and provide awareness raising of different outcomes. It also sought to explore how the UN system can help implement or pursue sustainable agendas within the regional context.

The Forum included a series of “hard talks” on the energy transition for sustainable development and the interplay between renewable energy and fossil fuels, and roundtable discussions and panel sessions, which focused on, inter alia: the findings of the ‘UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Renewable Energy Status Report 2017’; energy efficiency in buildings; the role of gas in achieving sustainable development; socioeconomic benefits of renewable energy; and the alignment between renewable energy and energy efficiency policies. [IISD RS Coverage of Energy Ministerial Conference and Eighth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development] [ESCAP Press Release on EXPO 2017] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Ministers Committing to Scaling up Renewable Energy in Central Asia]