Sierra Leone
REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE
Statement by
His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim M Sesay
Deputy Minister of Development and Economic Planning
At the Fourteenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
Mr. Chairman, your Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates,
At the outset, the Delegation of Sierra Leone would like to align itself with the
statement made by the distinguished Representative of South Africa on behalf of
the Group of 77 and China and also the statement by the African Group. We
thank you and the entire CSD-14 Bureau, for the efficient manner in which you
are conducting the affairs of this session.
Mr. Chairman, the themes for CSD-14 are apt especially for least developed
countries like Sierra Leone. There is need to enhance energy efficiency to
address pollution, climate change, industrial development for poverty reduction
and the timely achievement of the MGDs.
In many least developed countries (LDCs), the road networks are poor; there are
water shortages and inadequate electricity supplies. Small and medium scale
enterprises (SMEs), which are a key to the development of the industrial sector,
are mostly resource-starved and under financed. SMEs, with little capital
investment, find themselves increasingly relying on generating their own
electricity from Petro-generators. The increase in energy consumption coupled
with rising energy prices has not only increased the production cost of SMEs in
these countries, but also the rate of atmospheric pollution with its attendant
consequences on human health. There is therefore a need to embark on energy
efficient projects that will enhance industrial development, decrease air pollution
and improve human well-being.
The heavy dependence on fossil fuel and centralized infrastructure for energy
services exclude the vast majority of people in rural areas from the socioeconomic
benefits of a modern system. Their only available options for energy
supply therefore are paraffin, candles and/or charcoal as fuel wood for cooking
and heating. It is, indeed, in these rural areas around the world that renewable
energy can make the biggest difference and help to meet the MGD targets in a
more environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.
Mr. Chairman, transportation is a major source of pollution in many of our
countries. As Sierra Leone slowly recovers from the devastation of conflict,
vehicle ownership has increased. The problem however is that most of these are
2
old, used cars from the north with very high emission rates. In tackling the twin
problems of global pollution and climate change, it will be necessary to forge
partnerships between private and public sector institutions. Car manufacturers
may need to produce more energy efficient vehicles with lower carbon dioxide
and sulphur emissions as well as higher fuel efficiencies; say in excess of 60
miles per gallon. Clean renewable energy sources and cleaner fossils fuel
technologies need to be vigorously pursued to increase fuel energy security and
create a greener world environment.
I would like to conclude Mr. Chairman, by reiterating that energy for sustainable
development remains a major challenge for the developing world. Energy is
central to achieving the MDGs and sustainable development goals. Noting, that
some two billion people have no access to modern energy services, the
challenge lies in finding ways to reconcile the necessity for energy demand with
its impact on the natural resource base in order to ensure that
sustainable development goals are realized. Innovative financing for renewable
energy research and technologies is therefore urgently required especially in the
developing world as renewable energy creates win-win solutions for
environmentally friendly development.
I thank you all.
Statement by
His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim M Sesay
Deputy Minister of Development and Economic Planning
At the Fourteenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
Mr. Chairman, your Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates,
At the outset, the Delegation of Sierra Leone would like to align itself with the
statement made by the distinguished Representative of South Africa on behalf of
the Group of 77 and China and also the statement by the African Group. We
thank you and the entire CSD-14 Bureau, for the efficient manner in which you
are conducting the affairs of this session.
Mr. Chairman, the themes for CSD-14 are apt especially for least developed
countries like Sierra Leone. There is need to enhance energy efficiency to
address pollution, climate change, industrial development for poverty reduction
and the timely achievement of the MGDs.
In many least developed countries (LDCs), the road networks are poor; there are
water shortages and inadequate electricity supplies. Small and medium scale
enterprises (SMEs), which are a key to the development of the industrial sector,
are mostly resource-starved and under financed. SMEs, with little capital
investment, find themselves increasingly relying on generating their own
electricity from Petro-generators. The increase in energy consumption coupled
with rising energy prices has not only increased the production cost of SMEs in
these countries, but also the rate of atmospheric pollution with its attendant
consequences on human health. There is therefore a need to embark on energy
efficient projects that will enhance industrial development, decrease air pollution
and improve human well-being.
The heavy dependence on fossil fuel and centralized infrastructure for energy
services exclude the vast majority of people in rural areas from the socioeconomic
benefits of a modern system. Their only available options for energy
supply therefore are paraffin, candles and/or charcoal as fuel wood for cooking
and heating. It is, indeed, in these rural areas around the world that renewable
energy can make the biggest difference and help to meet the MGD targets in a
more environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.
Mr. Chairman, transportation is a major source of pollution in many of our
countries. As Sierra Leone slowly recovers from the devastation of conflict,
vehicle ownership has increased. The problem however is that most of these are
2
old, used cars from the north with very high emission rates. In tackling the twin
problems of global pollution and climate change, it will be necessary to forge
partnerships between private and public sector institutions. Car manufacturers
may need to produce more energy efficient vehicles with lower carbon dioxide
and sulphur emissions as well as higher fuel efficiencies; say in excess of 60
miles per gallon. Clean renewable energy sources and cleaner fossils fuel
technologies need to be vigorously pursued to increase fuel energy security and
create a greener world environment.
I would like to conclude Mr. Chairman, by reiterating that energy for sustainable
development remains a major challenge for the developing world. Energy is
central to achieving the MDGs and sustainable development goals. Noting, that
some two billion people have no access to modern energy services, the
challenge lies in finding ways to reconcile the necessity for energy demand with
its impact on the natural resource base in order to ensure that
sustainable development goals are realized. Innovative financing for renewable
energy research and technologies is therefore urgently required especially in the
developing world as renewable energy creates win-win solutions for
environmentally friendly development.
I thank you all.
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