Azerbaijan
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and other Members of the Bureau upon
your election and express our confidence in your able leadership.
Mr. Chairman,
The Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (UN DESA) jointly convened the Baku Symposium on Energy
Efficiency and Sustainable Development, from 28-30 March 2006 in Baku,
Azerbaijan. The Symposium was attended by the government representatives,
industry leaders, academia, private sector and NGOs.
Participants discussed issues pertaining to energy efficiency and conservation,
efficiency and security in energy supply systems, public-private partnerships in
energy efficiency promotion, alternative energy sources and adopted the Baku
Declaration on Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development in the Caspian Sea
region and other oil producing and exporting countries. The Declaration has been
circulated as an official session document (E/CN.17/2006/14).
Mr. Chairman,
Participants emphasized that energy efficiency plays an important role in helping
countries to achieve sustainable development goals and stressed that energy efficiency
offers win-win solutions. It was also recognized that the potentials for energy
efficiency promotion have yet to be explored and it would have a significant impact
on achieving MDGs.
Participants shared the importance of increasing public awareness, including
education and training; strengthening capacity-building, improving the performance
of energy and materials use; integrating energy efficiency considerations into the
planning, operation and maintenance of long-existing energy supply and use
infrastructures.
It was highlighted that energy efficiency efforts will be more successful if they are
backed by a supportive framework of policies and regulatory environment that may
include: power sector reforms; utility demand-side management programmes; energy
efficiency policies, laws and targets; the establishment of energy efficiency agencies;
voluntary agreements with industry; support and promotion of energy audits; and
energy efficiency standards, codes, testing, certification and labeling.
Participants unambiguously recognized the importance of and need for access of oil
producing and exporting countries to advanced, cleaner and more efficient fossil fuel
technologies, at affordable price and the role of those technologies in securing
sufficient energy supply to global market.
Moreover, the importance of technology transfer was highlighted in the context of gas
production, supply, distribution and re-injection. Particular attention was given to the
issue of controlling gas flaring and venting and expanding the necessary infrastructure
to transport the gas to markets. Participants also had in-depth discussion on the
initiatives and achievements of the Caspian region in the production and
transportation of oil and gas resources, in particular Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines.
Participants underscored the importance of identifying mechanisms to finance energy
efficiency projects and the use of renewable energy in oil industries as well as of
policies encouraging entrepreneurship in the energy sector and facilitating
institutional development, cooperation and networking among interested countries,
stakeholders and their energy efficiency centers.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, I would like to stress that we were privileged to convene this
Symposium and contribute to the international discussions on energy efficiency and
sustainable development. For this, allow me on behalf of the Government of the
Republic of Azerbaijan to extend our appreciation to all participants and once again to
UNDESA Division for Sustainable Development and personally to Ms. DiSano, for
their cooperation and support.
We believe that the outcomes of the Symposium will contribute to our
forthcoming deliberation.
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and other Members of the Bureau upon
your election and express our confidence in your able leadership.
Mr. Chairman,
The Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (UN DESA) jointly convened the Baku Symposium on Energy
Efficiency and Sustainable Development, from 28-30 March 2006 in Baku,
Azerbaijan. The Symposium was attended by the government representatives,
industry leaders, academia, private sector and NGOs.
Participants discussed issues pertaining to energy efficiency and conservation,
efficiency and security in energy supply systems, public-private partnerships in
energy efficiency promotion, alternative energy sources and adopted the Baku
Declaration on Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development in the Caspian Sea
region and other oil producing and exporting countries. The Declaration has been
circulated as an official session document (E/CN.17/2006/14).
Mr. Chairman,
Participants emphasized that energy efficiency plays an important role in helping
countries to achieve sustainable development goals and stressed that energy efficiency
offers win-win solutions. It was also recognized that the potentials for energy
efficiency promotion have yet to be explored and it would have a significant impact
on achieving MDGs.
Participants shared the importance of increasing public awareness, including
education and training; strengthening capacity-building, improving the performance
of energy and materials use; integrating energy efficiency considerations into the
planning, operation and maintenance of long-existing energy supply and use
infrastructures.
It was highlighted that energy efficiency efforts will be more successful if they are
backed by a supportive framework of policies and regulatory environment that may
include: power sector reforms; utility demand-side management programmes; energy
efficiency policies, laws and targets; the establishment of energy efficiency agencies;
voluntary agreements with industry; support and promotion of energy audits; and
energy efficiency standards, codes, testing, certification and labeling.
Participants unambiguously recognized the importance of and need for access of oil
producing and exporting countries to advanced, cleaner and more efficient fossil fuel
technologies, at affordable price and the role of those technologies in securing
sufficient energy supply to global market.
Moreover, the importance of technology transfer was highlighted in the context of gas
production, supply, distribution and re-injection. Particular attention was given to the
issue of controlling gas flaring and venting and expanding the necessary infrastructure
to transport the gas to markets. Participants also had in-depth discussion on the
initiatives and achievements of the Caspian region in the production and
transportation of oil and gas resources, in particular Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines.
Participants underscored the importance of identifying mechanisms to finance energy
efficiency projects and the use of renewable energy in oil industries as well as of
policies encouraging entrepreneurship in the energy sector and facilitating
institutional development, cooperation and networking among interested countries,
stakeholders and their energy efficiency centers.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, I would like to stress that we were privileged to convene this
Symposium and contribute to the international discussions on energy efficiency and
sustainable development. For this, allow me on behalf of the Government of the
Republic of Azerbaijan to extend our appreciation to all participants and once again to
UNDESA Division for Sustainable Development and personally to Ms. DiSano, for
their cooperation and support.
We believe that the outcomes of the Symposium will contribute to our
forthcoming deliberation.
Stakeholders