UNIDO organizes the High Level Energy Forum: renewable energies and energy efficiency in Africa

Accra, 29^th - 31^st October 2012. The Ghanaian capital hosted the High Level Energy Forum entitled: “Paving the Way for Sustainable Energy for All in West Africa through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency”.

The Forum, jointly organized by UNIDO, ECOWAS, the Global Forum for Sustainable Energy (GSFE) and hosted by the Government of Ghana, aimed at some relevant objectives. First of all, the launching of United Nations "Sustainable Energy for All" (SE4All) initiative in the ECOWAS countries and the presentation of the report on the Strategic Plan GEF-UNIDO for West Africa (SPWA) progress. The event then provided the opportunity for presentation and formal adoption of other initiatives and policies that closely concern the field of energy efficiency and sustainability, as well as give space for the inauguration of ECOREX, the deputed ECOWAS observatory for these sectors.

The Forum was part of the SE4All Initiative launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who recently has recalled the attention of stakeholders on three main goals to be achieved by 2030: ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix; doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

In the specific area of ECOWAS member countries, the event takes place in the background of the encouraging recent developments in renewable energy production and access, demonstrated by progress in the formulation and implementation of policies; adoption of laws, standards and incentive systems aiming at attract investment in the sector. In fact, additional funds are required to achieve the three goals by 2030 and, in this framework, UNIDO will support green industrial development in Ghana through a EUR 1.3 million project, funded by the Republic of Korea,playing then a forefront role to increase distribution of sustainable energy, standards improvement and for the deployment of financial instruments to facilitate investments.