Energy is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts.
It affects all aspects of development -- social, economic, and environmental -- including
livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, population levels, education,
and gender-related issues. None of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be met without
major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing countries.
UNDP's efforts in energy for sustainable development support the achievement of the
MDGs, especially MDG 1, reducing by half the proportion of people living in poverty by 2015.
Through an integrated development approach, UNDP works to help create enabling policy frameworks,
develop local capacity and provide knowledge-based advisory services for expanding access
to energy services for the poor.
What's New
View all sustainable energy publications and resources
From our Country Offices
New
UNDP initiative helps tackle China's energy
dilemma. A 12-year, 4-phase programme seeks to remove barriers to the widespread
application of energy conservation and efficiency in China's major energy end users – industry
and buildings. With a sustainable, market-based approach, this programme will help
China enhance productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve global environment.
Nepal: UNDP Nepal's Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) aims to strengthen and support decentralized energy development in Nepal and has been highly successful in providing access to affordable alternative energy for poor people in remote areas. Visit UNDP Nepal’s website for an example of a REDP success story.
West
Africa: Multifunctional Platform for Poverty
Alleviation. Visit the
project website to read reports on how the platform frees women from manual labor,
increases income generating opportunities.
Philippines: Capacity building
to remove barriers to renewable energy. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by removing
key market, policy, technical and financial barriers to the development of renewable energy to replace
fossil fuel use.
Russia: Capacity
building to reduce key barriers to energy efficiency. The GEF/UNDP Project is aimed
at overcoming barriers in reforming the heat supply system in residential sector.
UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok: The Regional Energy Programme for Poverty Reduction (REP-PoR) was implemented by the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok, Thailand from 2005 to 2008. The programme primarily focused on enhancing equitable access to appropriate, reliable and affordable energy services to reduce human and income poverty, and thereby support the achievement of the MDGs. Visit REP-PoR’s website for examples of numerous country case studies and other publications.
Partnerships
Global
Environment Facility (GEF) UNDP-GEF supports the development of projects
in the areas of biodiversity, climate change, international waters, ozone depletion,
persistent organic pollutants and land degradation.
GEF
Small Grants Program The Small Grants Programme aims to deliver global
environmental benefits in the GEF Focal Areas.
Global
Village Energy Partnership (GVEP) GVEP brings together developing country and
industrialised governments, multilateral and bilateral donors, private firms, NGOs and
other stakeholders to ensure access to modern energy services by the poor. Read about
GVEP's recent activities by clicking
here.
LP
Gas Rural Energy Challenge The LPG Challenge is a public private partnership
between the World Liquid Petroleum Gas Association (WLPGA) and the UNDP designed to create
viable and sustainable markets for LP Gas delivery and consumption. Visit
this link for an 8-page brief and status reports.
Global
Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD), a UNEP facilitated knowledge
network of developing world Centres of Excellence and network partners, renowned
for their work on energy, development, and environment issues.
UNDP/World
Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Program ESMAP is a global technical
assistance program which helps build consensus and provides policy advice on sustainable
energy development to governments of developing countries and economies in transition.
