For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/124
17 January 2012
New UNIDO Report Highlights Importance of Industrial Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Development
VIENNA/ABU DHABI, 17 January (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - Industrial energy efficiency is key to sustainable industrial development, especially in developing countries, according to a flagship publication of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
UNIDO's Industrial Development Report, launched today at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, urges investment in energy-efficient technologies in order to provide the economic, environmental and social dividends that will help achieve sustainable growth.
The publication, entitled "Industrial energy efficiency for sustainable wealth creation: capturing environmental, economic and social dividends", stresses that sustainable energy production is essential to overcome the major challenges the world faces today.
Presenting the report, UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, said: "A world that has just reached a population of seven billion must take into account industrial energy efficiency if it wants to address such challenges as green growth, employment generation, security, climate change, food production and poverty reduction. Industrial energy efficiency is essential for strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems and achieving social benefits."
"Improving industrial energy efficiency is key to sustainable industrial development worldwide but especially in the rapidly developing countries of the Global South. It will help realize the global green economy and green industries. Investing in energy-efficient technologies, systems, processes, training and upgrading of skills must underpin low-carbon green growth," added Yumkella.
The UNIDO report states that energy consumption could grow even faster as developing countries reduce the income gap and grapple with growing populations demanding more manufactured products. This makes it imperative to remove barriers that currently impede energy efficiency investments.
Yumkella also said that the new report was UNIDO's main contribution to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative launched by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The initiative aims to achieve by 2030 three inter-linked global targets: universal access to modern energy services; the doubling of energy efficiency; and the doubling of the share of renewable energy in the world's energy supply.
Secretary-General Ban has appointed a high-level group for the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. The Group includes distinguished global leaders in business, finance, Governments, and civil society, and is co-chaired by UNIDO Director-General Yumkella and the Chairman of Bank of America, Charles O. Holliday.
The Industrial Development Report has a special focus on developing countries, backed by a set of unique statistics on Manufacturing Value Added (MVA), manufacturing export trends, and other key indicators. It also presents UNIDO's Competitive Industrial Performance Index.
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To read the full report in English, as well as a summary in Arabic, please go here:
http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=1002049
For more information on the Industrial Development Report, please contact:
Ludovico
Alcorta
Director, UNIDO Research and Statistics Branch
Telephone : (+43-1) 26026-3729 or 26060-3719
Email: A.Alcorta[at]unido.org
For more information on UNIDO, please contact:
Mikhail
Evstafyev
UNIDO Advocacy and Communications Coordinator
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-5021
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-7329
Email: M.Evstafyev[at]unido.org
