More options

Pathways to Sustainable Energy

Introduction

The UNECE region will play an important role in attaining the international energy and climate objectives that were agreed in 2015, notably the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the agreement reached at the 21st COP meeting in Paris in 2015, referred to as “Paris Agreement”. Energy underpins most of these goals, and the energy sector plays a critical role in finding solutions for both sustainable development and climate change mitigation. Read more >

In focus

Pathways to Sustainable Energy – Accelerating Energy Transition in the UNECE Region

After four years, UNECE has completed the first phase of the project that seeks to help countries develop, implement and track national sustainable energy policies. The project was designed to inform decision-makers about effective policy and technology options to attain sustainable energy. Results will be presented and discussed at the Committee’s 29th session in the week of 23 November 2020.

The project approach combines modelling of energy scenarios with policy dialogue, technology research and the development of an early-warning system concept to monitor and forecast if achievement of sustainable energy objectives is on track. It proposes immediate, medium-term and long-term solutions to attain sustainable energy. This is especially important as the UNECE region is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The countries in the region need to cut or capture at least 90Gt of CO₂ emissions by 2050 to meet the 2⁰C target. Find out more about the challenges and proposed solutions here:

Full report: English, Russian
Project leaflet: English, Russian
Early Warning System Concept
Overview and Key Findings by Scott Foster, Director, UNECE Sustainable Energy Division

Highlights

The UNECE implemented the project on the “Role of Natural Gas in Attaining Sustainable Energy in the UNECE Region”

The objective of the project was to improve the understanding of the UNECE member States on the role of natural gas in achieving 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement.

The project complemented the UNECE flagship project Pathways to Sustainable Energy and explored the strategic options with respect to natural gas for closing the gaps between the current circumstances and both the commitments the countries have made and what is truly needed to meet long-term sustainability objectives.

A series of studies analysed:
How Natural Gas Can Displace Competing Fuels
How Natural Gas can Support the Uptake of Renewable Energy
The Potential of Natural Gas to Penetrate New Markets