IEF
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM SECRETARIAT
P.O. Box: 94736? Riyadh 11614, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ? Tel: 4810022 ? Fax: 4810055
14th United Nations Commission
on Sustainable Development
High Level Segment
11 May 2006
Global Dialogue on Energy
Statement by Ambassador Arne Walther,
Secretary General of the International Energy Forum
The 10 th International Energy Forum Ministerial was held in Doha, Qatar two weeks ago. 59
countries and six international organisations took part. Energy Ministers of both producing
and consuming countries, including the major industrialized as well as developing countries,
focused on energy security and the links between energy, environment and economic
development. I am grateful for the opportunity to highlight some of their perspectives in our
session today.
Energy security concern is today at the top of the political agenda worldwide and not only for
Energy Ministers. It is there because of its importance for economic and social development
in each and every country. Energy affects commercial and political relations between
countries. It fuels the world economy and impacts the environment. Energy influences
international politics and international politics influence energy developments. Energy goes to
the core of national and global interests in an increasingly interdependent world. Energy is,
indeed, a defining issue of this new Century. Crucial to meeting our Millennium Development
Goals.
The World Commission on Environment and Development emphasized in its report ?Our
Common Future? almost twenty years ago the importance of energy for sustainable economic
and social development and not least the importance of oil prices for international energy
policy. It recommended that new mechanisms for encouraging dialogue between consumers
and producers be explored. The informal political level dialogue in the International Energy
Forum dates back to a proposal by the Chairperson of that Commission following up its
recommendation.
Shared perspectives
IEF Energy Ministers could note, when they met two weeks ago, that world economic growth
had remained strong despite increasing oil prices and market volatility. But they expressed
concern over effects of sustained high price levels on the world economy, and especially on
developing countries. Ministers voiced their shared interest in reduced market volatility and
prices at reasonable levels for both consumers and producers.
Ministers noted that the world will continue to rely strongly on fossil fuels, oil, natural gas
and coal, and that supplies are ample. Ministers thus underlined the need to accelerate the
development of cleaner fossil fuel technologies as well as alternative sources of energy. They
emphasized the need to increase energy efficiency ? the easiest available alternative source of
energy.
They called for a stepping up of investments across the energy chain to meet the substantial
increase in demand required for global economic growth and social development in the years
ahead. Investments of some USD 17 trillion will be required over the next twenty-five years to
maintain and add the new infrastructure necessary to meet surging world energy demand, not
least in developing countries as they industrialize. Global energy demand is expected to be
50% higher in 2030 than it is today, if current trends continue.
Ministers underscored that improved access to markets, resources, technology and financial
services, bolstered by fair and transparent economic fiscal and legal regulatory frameworks,
and by good governance, is crucial for the long-term energy security of both consumers and
producers.
They furthermore underlined the importance of transparency and exchange of data for
market predictability and thus for the investments required to enhance energy security. They
reaffirmed their support to the Joint Oil Data Initiative, which the IEF Secretariat is
coordinating, with the support of the UN, of the IEA and OPEC, of APEC, Eurostat, OLADE.
The IEF Secretariat and UNDESA presented the Joint Oil Data Initiative at a side -event the
day before yesterday to this 14 th UNCSD.
The World will need more and cleaner energy used in a more efficient way, accessible and
affordable to a larger share of the world?s population. The challenge lies in operationalizing
this imperative in a fair and sustainable way. A shared challenge to be purposefully addressed
in national policies as well as in bilateral, regional, inter-regional and wider global cooperation.
In dialogue and co -operation not only between governments. Also industry itself
and other stakeholders have their integrated role to play.
As an important part of the IEF Secretariat?s mission to enhance the political level global
energy dialogue among energy ministers, we are looking forward to continued interaction
with the UNCSD as you focus on energy this year and next in our common efforts for a
sustainable energy future.
P.O. Box: 94736? Riyadh 11614, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ? Tel: 4810022 ? Fax: 4810055
14th United Nations Commission
on Sustainable Development
High Level Segment
11 May 2006
Global Dialogue on Energy
Statement by Ambassador Arne Walther,
Secretary General of the International Energy Forum
The 10 th International Energy Forum Ministerial was held in Doha, Qatar two weeks ago. 59
countries and six international organisations took part. Energy Ministers of both producing
and consuming countries, including the major industrialized as well as developing countries,
focused on energy security and the links between energy, environment and economic
development. I am grateful for the opportunity to highlight some of their perspectives in our
session today.
Energy security concern is today at the top of the political agenda worldwide and not only for
Energy Ministers. It is there because of its importance for economic and social development
in each and every country. Energy affects commercial and political relations between
countries. It fuels the world economy and impacts the environment. Energy influences
international politics and international politics influence energy developments. Energy goes to
the core of national and global interests in an increasingly interdependent world. Energy is,
indeed, a defining issue of this new Century. Crucial to meeting our Millennium Development
Goals.
The World Commission on Environment and Development emphasized in its report ?Our
Common Future? almost twenty years ago the importance of energy for sustainable economic
and social development and not least the importance of oil prices for international energy
policy. It recommended that new mechanisms for encouraging dialogue between consumers
and producers be explored. The informal political level dialogue in the International Energy
Forum dates back to a proposal by the Chairperson of that Commission following up its
recommendation.
Shared perspectives
IEF Energy Ministers could note, when they met two weeks ago, that world economic growth
had remained strong despite increasing oil prices and market volatility. But they expressed
concern over effects of sustained high price levels on the world economy, and especially on
developing countries. Ministers voiced their shared interest in reduced market volatility and
prices at reasonable levels for both consumers and producers.
Ministers noted that the world will continue to rely strongly on fossil fuels, oil, natural gas
and coal, and that supplies are ample. Ministers thus underlined the need to accelerate the
development of cleaner fossil fuel technologies as well as alternative sources of energy. They
emphasized the need to increase energy efficiency ? the easiest available alternative source of
energy.
They called for a stepping up of investments across the energy chain to meet the substantial
increase in demand required for global economic growth and social development in the years
ahead. Investments of some USD 17 trillion will be required over the next twenty-five years to
maintain and add the new infrastructure necessary to meet surging world energy demand, not
least in developing countries as they industrialize. Global energy demand is expected to be
50% higher in 2030 than it is today, if current trends continue.
Ministers underscored that improved access to markets, resources, technology and financial
services, bolstered by fair and transparent economic fiscal and legal regulatory frameworks,
and by good governance, is crucial for the long-term energy security of both consumers and
producers.
They furthermore underlined the importance of transparency and exchange of data for
market predictability and thus for the investments required to enhance energy security. They
reaffirmed their support to the Joint Oil Data Initiative, which the IEF Secretariat is
coordinating, with the support of the UN, of the IEA and OPEC, of APEC, Eurostat, OLADE.
The IEF Secretariat and UNDESA presented the Joint Oil Data Initiative at a side -event the
day before yesterday to this 14 th UNCSD.
The World will need more and cleaner energy used in a more efficient way, accessible and
affordable to a larger share of the world?s population. The challenge lies in operationalizing
this imperative in a fair and sustainable way. A shared challenge to be purposefully addressed
in national policies as well as in bilateral, regional, inter-regional and wider global cooperation.
In dialogue and co -operation not only between governments. Also industry itself
and other stakeholders have their integrated role to play.
As an important part of the IEF Secretariat?s mission to enhance the political level global
energy dialogue among energy ministers, we are looking forward to continued interaction
with the UNCSD as you focus on energy this year and next in our common efforts for a
sustainable energy future.