12 June 2017: A number of recent meetings and a publication have sought to advance the transition to a sustainable energy future, in particular in Central Asia. These developments contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (affordable and clean energy).

At the conclusion of the Ministerial Dialogue on ‘Renewable Energy in Central Asia’ held in the context of the Eighth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development and Ministerial Conference themed ‘Meeting the Challenges of Sustainable Energy,’ Central Asian countries and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released the ‘Astana Communiqué on Accelerating the Uptake of Renewables in Central Asia,’ highlighting the role of renewables in addressing the region’s emerging energy challenges.

In his message to EXPO 2017 on ‘Future Energy,’ UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to ensure everyone’s access to clean, affordable and efficient energy “so that they can rise to their full potential.”

The Ministers convened in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 11 June 2017 to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with Central Asia’s transition to a sustainable energy future. Among areas for collaboration with IRENA to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy in the region, ministers identified: resource assessments to ensure that up-to-date information on the renewable energy potential is available in each country; integration of variable renewable energy into power grids; policies and regulations for renewable energy deployment; renewable energy statistics and data collection; project development support; and awareness raising. [Astana Communiqué on Accelerating the Uptake of Renewables in Central Asia] [IRENA Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of Ministerial Conference]

In his message to EXPO 2017 on ‘Future Energy,’ taking place in Astana from 10 June to 10 September 2017, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to ensure everyone’s access to clean, affordable and efficient energy “so that they can rise to their full potential,” and underscored the importance of energy for realizing the SDGs. EXPO 2017 explores ways to scale up the world’s sustainable energy production, promote energy security and efficiency and encourage the use of renewable energy worldwide. [UN Press Release] [Expo 2017 Astana Website]

On 12 June 2017, during the Eighth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, taking place in Astana from 11-14 June 2017, and immediately following the Ministerial Conference of 11 June 2017, the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) launched a report titled ‘UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Renewable Energy Status Report 2017.’ The report provides an overview of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency markets, industry, policy and regulatory frameworks, and investment activities in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Tajikistan, Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. [UNECE Renewable Energy Status Report 2017] [Publication Landing Page] [REN21 Press Release]

These developments contribute to the achievement of SDG 7, in particular targets 7.1 (By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services), 7.2 (By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix) and 7.3 (By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency). The transition to renewable energy is essential to climate change mitigation, in line with SDG 13 (climate action).