22 June 2011: UN-Energy’s Knowledge Network has published the first issue of its newsletter, which features, inter alia: information and an interview on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Renewable Energy; a piece on the 2012 Year of Sustainable Energy for All; and a report on the e8 Global Summit.

The interview discusses key issues surrounding renewables with IPCC Working Group III co-Chair Ramón Pichs, including: key factors that have the potential to positively influence the deployment of renewable energy in the coming decades; necessary steps to bring down the costs of renewable energy technologies; lessons learnt from renewables policy experience thus far; and actions to be undertaken to alleviate energy poverty.

The newsletter also contains: a message from UN-Energy Chair Kandeh K. Yumkella introducing the new newsletter; an update of UN-Energy activities; an introduction to the summary report from the e8 “Global Summit to Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate Global Electricity Technology Deployment;”and an announcement of the Vienna Energy Forum, to be held from 21-23 June 2011, in Vienna, Austria. [Publication: UN Energy Newsletter June 2011 Issue 1] [IISD RS Coverage of the Vienna Energy Forum]