Energy for Sustainable Development in the ESCWA region Bader Al-Dafa Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary July 2008 High-Level Dialogue of the Regional Commissions with ECOSOC

I.The ESCWA Energy Sector II. Progress achieved on Energy for sustainable development a. Regional Progress Achieved b. Selected Key ESCWA Achievements III. Energy and climate change in the ESCWA region IV. Looking forward Energy for Sustainable Development in the ESCWA Region

A. Resources and Production Significant Oil and Natural Gas resources in nine member Countries. Utilizable renewable energy resources. Primary Energy Production: 34.1 m.b.o.e/day (Oil % ; Natural Gas %; Renewable - 2.3%). The electricity sector is dominated by thermal systems. I.The ESCWA Energy Sector

B. Energy Consumption Patterns Total Consumed commercial energy in 2006 at 403 m t.o.e, Growth rate of 5.6 % (2002 to 2006) Major consumers of gas and petroleum products: Transport (43%); Residential (18%); Industry (17%) Major consumers of generated electricity: Residential (56%); Industry (26%) Access: 19 million (10%), mostly in rural areas, have no access to appropriate energy services esp. electricity; a further of 30 million are severely undersupplied.

II. A. Regional Progress Achieved Energy Efficiency: 1. Policies adopted for improving energy efficiency. 2. Codes of practice and energy labeling regulations were issued. 3. Energy audits were performed, and energy efficiency field projects implemented. Renewable Energy: 1. Limited Progress (mainly, solar water heaters & photovoltaic system) MW Electricity Wind farms in operation and 50 MW planned Solar Thermal Plant. 3. Ambitious targets currently set by some member countries.

Cleaner Fuels and Advanced Fossil Fuels Technologies: Increase in the share of natural gas in the energy mix Oil & gas sector adopted advanced & clean fuel technologies. Use of unleaded gasoline and low-sulfur diesel in transport. Energy in Transport: Improving fuel specifications (including fuel additives). Some successful programmes for natural gas vehicles. Vehicles inspection and maintenance programmes & upgrading the status of national fleets. Regional Integration: Subregional electric grid interconnections and natural gas pipelines implemented and other planned.

B-Selected Key ESCWA Achievements 1- Facilitating and Promoting Policy Formulation Through policy formulation, advocacy and collaboration with LAS, ESCWA was instrumental in adopting: The Arab Initiative for Sustainable Development 2002 The Abu-Dhabi Declaration on Environment and Energy 2003 The Arab Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change Strengthening Regional Cooperation Regional Promotional Mechanism for Sustainable Energy Systems (RPMSES) Partnership with LAS and UNEP/ROWA on follow-up on implementation of JPOI and Arab initiative for Sustainable Dev. Cooperation with Council of Arab Ministers responsible for Electricity

3- Enhancing Member Countries Capacities: (a) Energy Efficiency Assessment of energy efficiency opportunities in petroleum, electricity, residential, industry, and tourism sectors (ex. Qatar, Yemen, Egypt and Syria) (b) Renewable Energy Developing profiles on renewable energy availability & potential and a regional approach for disseminating its application. (c) Transport and Cleaner Fuels Promoting approaches for Greenhouse Gases abatement in the transport sector including the use of clean fuel and traffic management. (d) Capacity Building Capacity building of environment and energy officials on energy labeling and energy efficiency.

III-The Energy Sectors Contribution to Climate Change Although ESCWA countries do not contribute significantly to Global Warming, they will be disproportionately affected by Climate Change. CO2 Emissions: Energy production sectors (34.0%); and 50-55% is produced due to fuel burning in the consumption sectors. Commitment to Address Climate Change as formulated in The Arab Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change (2007).

ESCWA Upcoming Activities Prepare an assessment on the effects of climate change on economic and social development in the region; Increase awareness on CC relevant issues; Develop an Arab framework action plan on climate change, in partnership with the League of Arab States, UNEP/ROWA and other relevant regional organizations (being developed); Prepare a report on Energy policies and measures for promoting climate change mitigation in ESCWA countries; Provide advisory services to member Countries on the development of national GHG mitigation strategies and the preparation of Action Plans for their implementation.

IV-Looking Forward Enhance capacity of member countries to meet MDGs (esp. Goal 7) and integrating climate change in national sustainable energy strategies. Promote South-South cooperation for SD. Provide technical support in conducting needs assessments for clean energy technologies & implementation. Support in the formulation of policies to increase investment and financial flows for CC mitigation and adaptation.

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