World lags on clean-energy goals

May 22th, 2017 – The Vienna Energy Forum 2017 held from 9 – 12 May 2017 offered a platform to engage in dynamic and critical debates to help shape the future energy landscape.

With the theme “Sustainable energy for the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement”, the VEF 2017 highlighted the multiplier effects of integrated approaches for sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels. The Forum also accentuated the potentials of the sustainable energy nexus – linking energy to water, food and health – as well as innovation as a global driver for accelerated sustainable growth.

The nexus between energy, climate, transport, food, water and health are inseparable and an essential contributor to social progress and human well-being, which needs to be approached in an integrated manner to best synergize solutions.

Ensuring sustainable energy for all whilst adhering to the 2030 Agenda and implementation of Climate Agreement remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. Fostering innovation provides us with an opportunity to develop a new capacity for jobs and wealth creation whilst safeguarding the environment and ensuring affordable and clean energy access for all.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted by the world leaders aim to address the interlinked problems of inequality, hunger and climate change. VEF 2017 focused specifically on addressing the linkages among the key SDGs and their contribution to the 2030 Development Agenda, with an emphasis on better policy analysis and institutional arrangements needed to spur innovation, as well as tools necessary to increase the role of innovation as a driver of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.

The Forum will continue to be the global high level platform for discussing the pivotal sustainability challenges of our age, and the catalytic role of energy in achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

Written by UNIDO
Photo: Embassy of India

http://www.unido.org/news-centre/events/vienna-energy-forum/vienna-energy-forum-2017.html