REPORT ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSIONS IN BALI, INDONESIA 

May 27 - June 7, 2002, at the Preparatory Committee Meeting for the
World Summit on Sustainable Development
to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 26 - September 4, 2002

 The primary goals of this summer's World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) are to reinvigorate global political commitment to the principle of sustainable development agreed on ten years ago in Rio de Janeiro at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (also known as the Earth Summit) and to mobilize action on specific concrete activities needed to achieve sustainable development goals.  

  The negotiations in Bali did not result in consensus on a political declaration or an implementation plan for world leaders to adopt at the WSSD. Little progress was made on the political declaration and many sections of the Draft Plan of Implementation are bracketed, which means that ministers and world leaders attending the Johannesburg Summit will have to resolve the outstanding disagreements.

Responding to climate change is a special area of international disagreement affecting sustainable development goals. One of the primary accomplishments of the 1992 Earth Summit was the international agreement on establishing a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which contained non-binding commitments by industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After it became clear that stronger measures were required, additional binding targets were set out in the subsequent Kyoto Protocol. The United States, however, has rejected the Kyoto Protocol, saying it is flawed and would harm the US economy.

During the Bali meeting, representatives of the European Union countries went to UN headquarters in New York and deposited formal notices of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. Japan also announced that it will ratify the Protocol. Supporters of the  Kyoto Protocol are hoping to obtain enough ratifications to allow it to enter into force at the WSSD. In order to become effective, the Protocol must be ratified by at least 55 parties to the 1992 Convention, including industrialized countries responsible for at least 55 per cent of total carbon dioxide emissions in 1990. Russia's support is needed to bring the Protocol into force without US participation. In Bali, the US opposed  language in the Draft Plan of Implementation encouraging ratification of the Protocol at the WSSD.

Regarding energy for sustainable development, the fact that it is on the agenda for the WSSD represents a significant accomplishment, since it was not directly addressed in Agenda 21, the plan of action adopted at the Earth Summit. The Draft Plan of Implementation includes substantial agreements on energy actions in the section on Poverty Eradication (in paragraph 8 of the draft text), and the section on Changing Unsustainable Patterns of Production and Consumption (paragraph 16 on energy and 17 on transportation). There are also specific mentions of sustainable energy in paragraph 51, on Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States, and paragraph 54 on Sustainable Development on Africa.

The most contentious issues in the negotiations on energy involved suggested global and national targets and timetables for increased use of renewable energy sources, and national targets for phasing out subsidies which inhibit sustainable development. These have not been agreed to. The US is particularly opposed to establishing specific targets and timetables.

Proposals on targets for renewables called for increasing the global share to at least 15% of the total primary energy supply by 2010, with industrialized countries aiming for a 2% [or 5%] increase by 2010 compared to 2000 levels. The proposal on phasing out subsidies called on developed countries to lead the way and, subject to a satisfactory review in 2007, subsequent action by developing countries.

The organization of voluntary partnerships to implement plans for sustainable development is being promoted as a major outcome of the WSSD. Work on organizing these partnerships is moving forward, despite concerns from NGOs and others that they might detract from the emphasis government commitments, or rely too much on voluntary initiatives by businesses in public/private ventures. The US is especially supportive of the concept of voluntary partnership initiatives.

Major energy partnership initiatives under discussion include:   

Global Village Energy Partnership - Leading partners: UNDP Sustainable Energy office and  ESMAP, a joint UNDP/World Bank program; open to developing countries, donor countries, private sector partners, NGOs, and multilateral institutions. Objectives: accelerate provision of modern energy services to those who are unserved or underserved; build capacity for expanded generation and delivery; catalyze country commitments; and bridge gap between investors, entrepreneurs and customers. Services: country action plans to provide implementation vehicles for energy-related activities; capacity development to enhance policy frameworks, entrepreneurial activity, credit systems and program monitoring; enterprise development for rural energy service delivery; consumer engagement; funding facilitation; knowledge management to share info on innovative program and policy approaches, technical expertise and lessons learned; results and impact monitoring and evaluation. Expected to be initiated at WSSD.

 Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development - Lead partner: UN Environment Programme. Global network for information exchange, learning, analysis, policy support, capacity development, and tracking progress on sustainable energy developments. Objectives: Establish a network of energy/development/environment institutions that can increase contact and cooperation between relevant agencies, financing bodies, and national and regional experts. Provide advisory services to public and private decision-makers on energy policies and decisions. Undertake collaborative research studies. Activities: Regional and global activities to raise awareness, increase knowledge and disseminate good practices. Knowledge sharing networks and databases, mainstreaming of sustainable energy indicators, guidelines and tools to advance collective know-how. Regional and inter-regional seminars. Country specific activities originating from partner energy centers. Expected to be initiated Jan 2003

Productive Use of Clean Energy for Small Island Developing States - Leadpartner: UN Industrial Development Organization. Objectives: Energy self-sufficiency and increased use of energy for productive purposes in SIDS. Activities: Analyze demand and supply data. Formulate policies and strategies. Develop projects to submit to donors. Implement demonstration projects.

The full text of the Draft Plan of Implementation [PDF] can be viewed on the johannesburgsummit.org site.

Prepared by Gail Karlsson, g.karlsson@att.net,
Citizens Network for Sustainable Development, www.citnet.org
Working Group on Energy and Climate Change 

 

 

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