SIDE EVENT REPORT Title of side event: Workshop on integration of informational resources into the decision-making process SDG7 target(s) addressed: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support Other SDG(s) addressed: SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17 Time and venue: 13:10-16:20 Venue: Meeting Room MR-G, UNCC, ESCAP Organized by: UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Energy Division, Mr. Fabian Kreuzer, Economic Affairs Officer Reporter s name, affiliation and contact details: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Technical Cooperation Programme, Mr. Ho-Seung Lee, Programme Management Officer ESCAP, Energy Division, Mr. Faran Rana, Intern (escapintern-faran.rana@un.org) ESCAP, Energy Division, Mr. Fabian Kreuzer, Economic Affairs Officer (fabian.kreuzer@un.org)
1. Agenda Please provide the run-of-show of your side event, including list of speakers and moderator. 13:10-13:20 13:20-13:40 13:40-14:00 14:00-14:15 14:15-14:30 14:30-15:10 15:10-16:10 16:10-16:20 Workshop on integration of informational resources into the decision-making process Opening remarks Mr. Hongpeng Liu, Director Energy Division, ESCAP Mr. Wei Huang, Director Planning, Information and Knowledge Management, IAEA Presentation: ESCAP s Energy Division s Programme of Work Mr. Fabian Kreuzer, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP Presentation: IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme Mr. Ho-Seung Lee, Programme Management Officer, IAEA Presentation: Scoping study evidence for energy policy- and decision-making analytical tools for a knowledge platform Mr. Fabian Kreuzer, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP Presentation: Capacity building for energy planning: Energy models and tools for sustainable development Ms. Ilse Berdellans, Energy Systems Analyst, IAEA Country presentations (10 min. each) Indonesia: Mr. Wiku Lulus Widodo, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) of Indonesia Kazakhstan: Ms. Gulshat Mazhitova, Chief Expert, Department of International Cooperation and Integration Processes, Ministry of Energy Lao PDR: Mr. Phonesavanh Lathdavong, Department of Science, Ministry of Science and Technology of Lao PDR The Philippines: Ms. Marietta Quejada, Department of Energy, Philippines Thailand: Mr. Yongyuth Sawatdisawanee, Deputy Director General, Department of Alternative Energy and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy Discussion: Key points and methods for effective approaches to supporting new policy development Conclusions
2. Summary of the session The workshop Integration of informational resources into decision-making process aimed to: a) Identify steps, key challenges and opportunities for improvement in policy/decision-making; b) Discuss the role of support through ESCAP, IAEA and other international organisations; c) Exchange views on future cooperation between ESCAP, IAEA and member states for capacity building in sustainable energy; d) Introduce the Asia Pacific Energy Portal for policy makers to use the tool in their policy-making process. The workshop was led by ESCAP and IAEA. Five country representatives spoke on behalf of their institutions on energy policy and the energy policy-making process, key challenges and future strategies. Three of the countries, Lao PDR, Indonesia and Philippines shared their experiences with the IAEA s Technical Cooperation on energy sector planning tools supporting socio-economic development, specifically SDG7. Thailand and Kazakhstan provided insight into their renewable energy and energy efficiency policies as well as their engagement with ESCAP in the Development Account project Evidence Based Policy Making for Sustainable Use of Energy in Asia-Pacific. 2.1. Key issues and challenges addressed in the event The ESCAP secretariat provided a brief overview of subprogramme 9 (Energy Division) and presented the preliminary findings of a scoping study with the working title Energy, Evidence and the Policy-Making Process. The study highlights dynamics of energy policy including the policyand decision-making process, influencing factors, evaluation criteria for good policy and sources of evidence. The intention of the report is to serve as a guide for policy makers to incorporate in their evidence-based policy making processes and provides guidance to ESCAP to further develop its knowledge sharing platform, the Asia-Pacific Energy Portal. The study is an output from the ESCAP Development Account project Evidence Based Policy Making for Sustainable Use of Energy in Asia-Pacific. IAEA presented two support programmes with linkages to SDG7 at the disposal of member States: a) Technical Cooperation Programme: Application of nuclear technology for socio-economic development in areas such as sustainable energy, food production, health care, climate change adaptation, managing water resources and measuring pollution. b) Energy Planning Programme: Capacity building for sustainable development and provision of tools that allow for evidence-based policy making for example, scenario simulation, demand analysis, supply optimization, financial analysis and analysis of environmental impacts.
Country representatives provided overviews of current progress and challenges in relation to national energy policies and evidence-based energy policy making. Some challenges mentioned were: i) reliance on fossil fuels, ii) indigenous resource depletion within 10 to 60 years (depending on resource and/or country), iii) financial constraints, iv) population growth triggering increase in energy consumption, and v) gaps in data availability, quality and reliability. Additional challenges include modeling capabilities and a mismatch between the energy sector development plans of different agencies. Representatives further discussed their policy making processes, best practices, international and regional cooperation and way forward. Participants emphasized the need to provide developing countries with support in capacity building on evidence-based policy making and discussed the role of ESCAP and IAEA in assisting countries in reaching these goals. 2.2. Key messages, outcomes, recommendations The following key messages, outcomes and recommendations were delivered during the workshop: Evidence is crucial for tracking progress against targets, reassessment and revision of policy; Stronger regional and international collaboration is needed to support energy planning processes, which must also make use of information exchange, enhanced use data and capacities, sharing of best practices, and financial support. The workshop identified potential synergies between ESCAP and IAEA to work together and help member states reach their targets under SDG7; Inclusiveness of both internal and external stakeholders in energy planning and policy making process will lead to efficient and equitable policy outcomes; Energy policy must be harmonized with other policy frameworks to avoid overlaps and duplication; Lowering cost of renewable energy technology, off-grid solutions and the internet of things (Iot) is changing energy systems, calling for a shift in policy planning processes. Therefore, policy reviews should be made more frequently to keep up with the latest developments. Asia Pacific Energy Portal (APEP) is a comprehensive database for all energy evidence in Asia- Pacific that policy makers can incorporate in their work; Participating policy-makers agreed that the meeting enhanced their knowledge to analyse the challenges and trends in the use of energy resources and that the APEP is a resource for that. 3. Innovative solutions/partnerships Please provide names of any innovative solutions or partnerships announced/presented at your side event. If already registered to the Partnership for SDGs Platform 1, please provide a link to the initiative. 1 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/energyconference/partnershipexchange
4. Annexes (please provide pictures, presentations, background documents as relevant)
Organized in the margins of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) every July, the Partnership Exchange is United Nations' annual global gathering for reviewing existing multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments, and launching new ones, in supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Feeding into the Partnership Exchange, the SDG7 Multi-stakeholder Partnership Exchange was a special day-long programme during the Global SDG7 Conference (Bangkok, 21-23 February 2018) designed to facilitate sharing of experiences from on-going partnerships and provide a global launching pad for new partnerships and voluntary commitments from all stakeholders, in support of the achievement of SDG7. This one-day programme was structured around a series of side events featuring diverse partnerships and experiences from across the world to highlight innovative approaches in driving affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. An emphasis was placed on those initiatives that demonstrate concrete interlinkages between SDG7 and other SDGs. This event made the start of the call for multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments that advance the implementation of SDG7 toward HLPF 2018. All stakeholders are encouraged to register their initiatives in Partnerships for SDGs online platform at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/energyconference/partnershipexchange These initiatives will also have an opportunity to feed into the global 2018 Partnership Exchange special event, to be held on 13 July 2018 in the margins of the 2018 HLPF at United Nations in New York. The full Programme for the SDG7 Partnership Exchange will be posted at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/energyconference/programme
Supported by Norway, Republic of Korea, China, Germany, The Netherlands, the European Commission, ENERGIA, and Hivos