For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OUS/103
10 October 2011

Re-issued as received

UNIDO Director-General Says Oslo Conference Vital Milestone for Developing Strategy to Provide Energy for All

OSLO/VIENNA, 10 October (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Kandeh K. Yumkella, said today that he was confident that this week's energy conference in Oslo was key to formulating an international strategy to make Sustainable Energy for All a reality.

Yumkella is taking part in the high-level Conference "Energy for all - financing access for the poor", hosted by Norway's Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg. Participants are exploring innovative financing mechanisms that can help countries and regions realize their ambitious energy plans.

"This is a good example of the readiness of leaders from the business world, governments, international organizations and civil society to come together and form new public-private partnerships to implement UN Secretary-General Ban's new global energy initiative," said Yumkella.

"This is a milestone on the road to the Rio+20 summit in June in Brazil and in achieving our ultimate goal of providing Sustainable Energy for All by the year 2030. Finance is a fundamental area where the international community can play an important role. The Sustainable Energy for All initiative is a great step in that direction."

In September, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched his new energy access initiative and a high-level group to design an "Action Agenda" to achieve the goal of Sustainable Energy for All by 2030 by meeting three inter linked global targets: universal access to modern energy services; doubling energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in world's energy supply.

UNIDO Director-General Yumkella co-chairs the high-level group together with the Chairman of Bank of America Corporation, Charles O. Holliday.

The year 2012 has been designated by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.

"Without energy there will be no human progress - nor will there be wealth creation. The healthcare system, education, jobs and economic development all depend on energy," said Yumkella.

For more information on the conference, please see: www.osloenergyforall2011.no

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For more information please contact:

Mikhail Evstafyev
UNIDO Advocacy and Communication Coordinator
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-5021
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-7329
Email: M.Evstafyev[at]unido.org