Montenegro and Slovenia
Division for the Support to the National Council for Sustainable Development
Date: 25-27 November 2013
Energy
MNE–SI speaking points for 5th meeting of OWG SDGs
· Having in mind the effects energy has on the overall economy, national and global trade,
and, on the other hand, the possible adverse effects it has on ecosystems, natural capital and
social cohesion, the topic of energy needs to, indisputably, be treated as one of cornerstones
of the future SDG in the post 2015 agenda. It will be important to ensure a unified message
and reflect a joint set of values and standards on all issues, including energy.
· In this context, we welcome the upcoming UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, and we
remain committed to being its active participants, among other ways, through the
implementation of the UN Secretary General’s SEE4ALL initiative that Montenegro is a part of
and that Slovenia supports within the wider EU policy.
· The energy issues are complex; hence, the way we address them will need to vary
accordingly, both in terms of the methodology employed as well as approach taken. The
solutions need to be kept global, but flexible enough, so as to allow each model to be
adapted at the local levels. This is the approach we emphasized in all our previous
interventions, and in the field of energy, it becomes even more demanding and critical.
· For some aspects, such as universal access to clean and affordable modern energy there is no
reason to wait in order to urgently act – consensus on this aspect of the future SDG set is
unequivocal, and the financial estimates needed to successfully complete the task are within
our reach.
· For others, on the other hand, we must engage in more long term efforts to build the legal,
institutional, regulatory and human infrastructure that will be needed to successfully develop
and deploy the necessary technologies at all levels – global, national and local. This, however,
does not mean that we can afford to postpone the start of the latter activities, but, rather, it
means that our first steps need to be carefully planned out and already from the onset
reflect in themselves a vision of the final outcome we all aspire to.
· For the adaptation to be successful, we support the call for higher transparency and
accountability in decision making relating to energy and the stronger inclusion of
stakeholders in the energy dialogue. In order to ensure this objective, we believe that
countries could make use of the already existing mechanisms of stakeholder participation,
such as the national sustainable development councils or similar advisory bodies set after the
original Rio Summit.
· We firmly believe that ensuring equitable access to sustainable and clean energy is vital and
a precondition for the overall achievement of various sustainability targets, ranging from
health, food, water, climate, equality, employment and many others. In this context, we
believe that it is crucial that we ensure the integration and the nexus approach in our work.
· For our countries, this integration can be achieved both by elaborating the necessary
subcomponents within a dedicated SDG on Energy, or by treating energy as a part of a wider
cluster of drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth. What we believe is crucial is to ensure
that all components are tackled, especially climate and biodiversity, social equity and health
aspects.
· Increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewables, while at the same time removing
harmful fuel subsidies is a priority for the green transformation we all have committed to in
Rio last year. Sustainable energy is one of crucial cornerstones of the future resilient and low
carbon societies. To successfully bring this future to the forefront, we all need to accelerate
the transitions our systems are undergoing, including through support to concrete initiatives
that make genuine changes on the ground.
· We would like to reiterate the message included in the Energy Brief provided to us by the TST
– we have achieved much success in some aspects of energy-related issues and we need to
continue to work on these. However, only by ensuring more national and especially
international coordinated policies and measures, will we make global energy systems more
efficient economically, more benign environmentally and more equitable socially.
· Finally, allow us to recall our general position towards the elaboration of SDGs that should be
evidence-based and have measurable qualitative and quantitative indicators that will help to
ensure full implementation potential of the visions we are certain we will create together in
this process. In energy related decisions strong science-policy interface is of utmost
importance, especially considering the long-term effects the decisions and investments have
in this sector.
· We remain committed to this goal and we are looking forward to intensive communication
and dialogue with all OWG members as well as major groups.
Date: 25-27 November 2013
Energy
MNE–SI speaking points for 5th meeting of OWG SDGs
· Having in mind the effects energy has on the overall economy, national and global trade,
and, on the other hand, the possible adverse effects it has on ecosystems, natural capital and
social cohesion, the topic of energy needs to, indisputably, be treated as one of cornerstones
of the future SDG in the post 2015 agenda. It will be important to ensure a unified message
and reflect a joint set of values and standards on all issues, including energy.
· In this context, we welcome the upcoming UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, and we
remain committed to being its active participants, among other ways, through the
implementation of the UN Secretary General’s SEE4ALL initiative that Montenegro is a part of
and that Slovenia supports within the wider EU policy.
· The energy issues are complex; hence, the way we address them will need to vary
accordingly, both in terms of the methodology employed as well as approach taken. The
solutions need to be kept global, but flexible enough, so as to allow each model to be
adapted at the local levels. This is the approach we emphasized in all our previous
interventions, and in the field of energy, it becomes even more demanding and critical.
· For some aspects, such as universal access to clean and affordable modern energy there is no
reason to wait in order to urgently act – consensus on this aspect of the future SDG set is
unequivocal, and the financial estimates needed to successfully complete the task are within
our reach.
· For others, on the other hand, we must engage in more long term efforts to build the legal,
institutional, regulatory and human infrastructure that will be needed to successfully develop
and deploy the necessary technologies at all levels – global, national and local. This, however,
does not mean that we can afford to postpone the start of the latter activities, but, rather, it
means that our first steps need to be carefully planned out and already from the onset
reflect in themselves a vision of the final outcome we all aspire to.
· For the adaptation to be successful, we support the call for higher transparency and
accountability in decision making relating to energy and the stronger inclusion of
stakeholders in the energy dialogue. In order to ensure this objective, we believe that
countries could make use of the already existing mechanisms of stakeholder participation,
such as the national sustainable development councils or similar advisory bodies set after the
original Rio Summit.
· We firmly believe that ensuring equitable access to sustainable and clean energy is vital and
a precondition for the overall achievement of various sustainability targets, ranging from
health, food, water, climate, equality, employment and many others. In this context, we
believe that it is crucial that we ensure the integration and the nexus approach in our work.
· For our countries, this integration can be achieved both by elaborating the necessary
subcomponents within a dedicated SDG on Energy, or by treating energy as a part of a wider
cluster of drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth. What we believe is crucial is to ensure
that all components are tackled, especially climate and biodiversity, social equity and health
aspects.
· Increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewables, while at the same time removing
harmful fuel subsidies is a priority for the green transformation we all have committed to in
Rio last year. Sustainable energy is one of crucial cornerstones of the future resilient and low
carbon societies. To successfully bring this future to the forefront, we all need to accelerate
the transitions our systems are undergoing, including through support to concrete initiatives
that make genuine changes on the ground.
· We would like to reiterate the message included in the Energy Brief provided to us by the TST
– we have achieved much success in some aspects of energy-related issues and we need to
continue to work on these. However, only by ensuring more national and especially
international coordinated policies and measures, will we make global energy systems more
efficient economically, more benign environmentally and more equitable socially.
· Finally, allow us to recall our general position towards the elaboration of SDGs that should be
evidence-based and have measurable qualitative and quantitative indicators that will help to
ensure full implementation potential of the visions we are certain we will create together in
this process. In energy related decisions strong science-policy interface is of utmost
importance, especially considering the long-term effects the decisions and investments have
in this sector.
· We remain committed to this goal and we are looking forward to intensive communication
and dialogue with all OWG members as well as major groups.