U.N. to promote sustainable energy

NEW YORK, Sep 21, 2011 -- UPI

The United Nations set up a group that will seek to make sustainable energy available universally.

Starting the joint U.N.-private sector initiative called High-Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said inability to access affordable and clean energy jeopardizes global efforts to combat poverty and disease.

"Energy is critical for human progress -- for health, education, job generation and economic competitiveness," Ban said.

The new group of leaders from business, government and civil society from around the world plans to achieve universal access to modern energy services by 2030. During that time, it will also seek to improve energy efficiency by 40 percent and produce 30 percent of the world's energy from renewable resources.

Countries will be asked to provide significant new commitments and establish public-private partnerships to spur private investment towards key targets.

"We need to provide access to energy for all. But, we also need to minimize the risks of dangerous climate change by ensuring that universal energy is clean and sustainable. In short, we need a clean energy revolution -- now," Ban said.

The report said about 1.4 billion people around the world lack access to electricity while a billion more have only unreliable electricity networks. They must depend on solid fuels such as coal or traditional biomass for basic cooking and heating.

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