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United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development – a missed opportunity for action on indoor air pollution?
News
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development – a missed opportunity for action on indoor air pollution?
O
n 30 April 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the first-ever country-by-country estimates of the burden of disease due to indoor air pollution. These statistics highlight the heavy toll solid fuel use takes on the health and well-being of people around the world. The estimates of the burden of disease can assist national decision-makers in the health, environment, energy and finance sectors to set priorities for preventive action. In the 21 worst-affected countries – Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Uganda – approximately 5 % of death and disease is caused by indoor air pollution. In 11 countries – Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United Republic of Tanzania – indoor air pollution is to blame for a total of 1.2 million deaths a year. Globally, reliance on solid fuels is one of the 10 most important threats to public health. The estimates of the burden of disease attracted additional attention to the health effects of indoor air pollution during the 14th and 15th sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), which focused on energy for sustainable development. Established in 1992 to ensure effective follow-up to the Rio Earth Summit, the CSD is the high-level forum for discussing sustainable development within the United Nations. Jointly with partners, including the German Technical Cooperation, Practical Action, the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, the German Ministry for
82
Economic Cooperation and Development, the Economic Community of West African States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, WHO organized a series of CSD side events. The panel discussion “4000 deaths a day from cooking fires? Let’s prevent them!” during the CSD 14th session (CSD-14) highlighted the scale of the problem. A “TV-style debate on healthy and affordable household energy” during the CSD 15th session (CSD-15) raised awareness about available solutions and successes, and engaged delegates in interactive discussions on the actions necessary to mitigate indoor air pollution.
Al-Attiyah, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar, presented his compromise text to delegates on a “take it or leave it” basis. The European Union rejected the text, stating that it neither addresses the identified challenges nor meets international expectations. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister for Environment, Territory and Nuclear Safety of Germany, stressed the need to improve the CSD decision-making process and urged the commission to ensure more ambitious results in the future. Switzerland also rejected the text, whereas the G-77/China, the United States, Canada and Mexico endorsed it. Representatives of major groups delivered closing statements, characterizing the CSD-15 as a “lost opportunity” and “two years of wasted hot air”. Consequently, the outcome of CSD-15 is a Chair’s Summary and not an agreed policy document. The recommendations most relevant to indoor air pollution are reproduced here: “Air pollution has serious adverse impacts on the quality of life, in particular on human health, the environment and the economy. Therefore an integrated approach is needed to tackle both indoor and outdoor air pollution, which takes into account the related environmental, economic, and social consequences. Its mitigation should be better integrated into national development planning processes. Indoor air pollution from traditional biomass cooking and heating is a poverty-related issue whose effects are most strongly felt at the household/local level, particularly in developing countries by women and children. Industry and various forms of transportation may contribute significantly to air pollution. “Take actions to: z Improve information dissemination
Unfortunately, the two-year process did not lead to a major breakthrough. Representatives of major groups delivered closing statements, characterizing the CSD-15 as “two years of wasted hot air”. Country delegations from around the world dedicated the first two weeks of May 2007 to negotiating policy options and possible actions to address energy for sustainable development, stimulate industrial development, reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change. Energy, environment and development ministers from around the world convened during the high-level segment to put their names behind the negotiated policy decisions. Unfortunately, the two-year process did not lead to a major breakthrough. Since numerous issues in the energy and climate change sections of the text remained unresolved until the last day, the Chair, Abdullah Hamad
Energy for Sustainable Development
z
Volume XI No. 2
z
June 2007
News
z
z
of, and the knowledge base on, sources and health impacts of indoor air pollution, in particular on women, children and workers. Provide financial and other resources to support programmes and other activities that address adverse health impacts including public awareness campaigns on indoor air pollution from all sources in developing countries; Replicate and increase, as appropriate, successful approaches and best practices and partnerships to reduce indoor air pollution, such as the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, with a priority focus on practical initiatives that improve air quality; Accelerate the transition from inefficient utilization of biomass to cleaner energy sources, technology, and appliances for cooking and heating and support efforts to disseminate improved
biomass-based technologies and provide incentives for switching to cleaner fuels and technologies; z [...] z Promote the establishment of country and regional air quality standards and norms taking into account WHO air quality guidelines as appropriate; z [...] z Improve collection, compilation and analysis of data, as well as capacities to measure and monitor air pollution and its impact on human health.” The health impacts of indoor air pollution, particularly among women and children, have received more international attention than ever before. Unlike for climate change and access to energy, delegations had agreed on all of the recommendations pertaining to indoor air pollution. Even if these do not form part of an agreed policy document, the raised political profile of the issue and the broad consensus
at CSD-15 support an acceleration of activities to reduce indoor air pollution. But this small success can only be a first step, as the challenge before us is enormous: more than half of the world’s population lack access to modern cooking fuels and technologies and breathe in indoor smoke on a daily basis. Household energy and health at CSD-15: http://www.who.int/indoorair/policy/ hhhcsd15/en/index.html Indoor air pollution: national estimates of burden of disease: http://www.who.int/indoorair/health_ impacts/burden_national/en/ index.html Chair’s summary of CSD-15: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/ policy.htm Eva Rehfuess, Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. E-mail: [email protected]
CSD-15 outcomes regarding sustainable energy announced at REEEP side event In New York, at the 15th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-15), the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) held a side event on sustainable energy for poverty reduction and economic growth. Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of UNIDO, announced plans to create a Vienna Energy Forum comprising all the intergovernmental agencies based in Vienna, such as UNIDO, IAEA, OPEC, IIASA and REEEP. The key themes for the forum would be energy access, energy efficiency and climate change. Daudi Migereko, Minister of Energy from Uganda, announced that his country would begin the process of enacting renewable energy legislation. Migereko is the chairman of the Forum of Energy Ministers of Africa (FEMA) and he called attention to the Maputo Declaration adopted by FEMA to develop sustainable energy sources. Harish Hande from SELCO Power in India presented the case for establishing linkages between energy services, income generation and finance. SELCO has developed models with local banks that allow micro-financing of renewable energy equipment to be secured by the increased revenues from services that result from the use of the equipment (e.g., solar-powered sewing machines). Anita Utseth, Norway’s State Secretary, stated that REEEP’s demand-driven, bottom-up approaches are essential to building trust between developed and developing countries. As REEEP’s second largest donor, she stated that the partnership’s goals are consistent with Norway’s Action Plan for Environment in Development. Renewable energy is only one side of the coin and REEEP is one of the few energy partnerships that bridges renewables with energy efficiency. Paula Dobriansky, US Under Secretary of State, stated that REEEP exemplifies the value of the public-private partnership model. REEEP will be working together with the US government to contribute to international energy efficiency at the WIREC08 conference in Washington. Stephanie Nour from the Canadian consultancy Econoler presented the case for the Brazilian oil company Petrobras’s decision to establish an energy service company (ESCO) for its industrial clients. The event was closed by Ian Pearson, UK Minister of State for Climate Change, who commented on the success of REEEP’s projects and stated that they should now be scaled up and developed further. The UK is also supportive of REEEP’s role in international processes, including the CSD. Eva Pawlowski, Media Relations, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), International Secretariat, Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400, Vienna, Austria.
Energy for Sustainable Development
z
Volume XI No. 2
z
June 2007
83
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development – a missed opportunity for action on indoor air pollution?
O
n 30 April 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the first-ever country-by-country estimates of the burden of disease due to indoor air pollution. These statistics highlight the heavy toll solid fuel use takes on the health and well-being of people around the world. The estimates of the burden of disease can assist national decision-makers in the health, environment, energy and finance sectors to set priorities for preventive action. In the 21 worst-affected countries – Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Uganda – approximately 5 % of death and disease is caused by indoor air pollution. In 11 countries – Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United Republic of Tanzania – indoor air pollution is to blame for a total of 1.2 million deaths a year. Globally, reliance on solid fuels is one of the 10 most important threats to public health. The estimates of the burden of disease attracted additional attention to the health effects of indoor air pollution during the 14th and 15th sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), which focused on energy for sustainable development. Established in 1992 to ensure effective follow-up to the Rio Earth Summit, the CSD is the high-level forum for discussing sustainable development within the United Nations. Jointly with partners, including the German Technical Cooperation, Practical Action, the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, the German Ministry for
82
Economic Cooperation and Development, the Economic Community of West African States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, WHO organized a series of CSD side events. The panel discussion “4000 deaths a day from cooking fires? Let’s prevent them!” during the CSD 14th session (CSD-14) highlighted the scale of the problem. A “TV-style debate on healthy and affordable household energy” during the CSD 15th session (CSD-15) raised awareness about available solutions and successes, and engaged delegates in interactive discussions on the actions necessary to mitigate indoor air pollution.
Al-Attiyah, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar, presented his compromise text to delegates on a “take it or leave it” basis. The European Union rejected the text, stating that it neither addresses the identified challenges nor meets international expectations. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister for Environment, Territory and Nuclear Safety of Germany, stressed the need to improve the CSD decision-making process and urged the commission to ensure more ambitious results in the future. Switzerland also rejected the text, whereas the G-77/China, the United States, Canada and Mexico endorsed it. Representatives of major groups delivered closing statements, characterizing the CSD-15 as a “lost opportunity” and “two years of wasted hot air”. Consequently, the outcome of CSD-15 is a Chair’s Summary and not an agreed policy document. The recommendations most relevant to indoor air pollution are reproduced here: “Air pollution has serious adverse impacts on the quality of life, in particular on human health, the environment and the economy. Therefore an integrated approach is needed to tackle both indoor and outdoor air pollution, which takes into account the related environmental, economic, and social consequences. Its mitigation should be better integrated into national development planning processes. Indoor air pollution from traditional biomass cooking and heating is a poverty-related issue whose effects are most strongly felt at the household/local level, particularly in developing countries by women and children. Industry and various forms of transportation may contribute significantly to air pollution. “Take actions to: z Improve information dissemination
Unfortunately, the two-year process did not lead to a major breakthrough. Representatives of major groups delivered closing statements, characterizing the CSD-15 as “two years of wasted hot air”. Country delegations from around the world dedicated the first two weeks of May 2007 to negotiating policy options and possible actions to address energy for sustainable development, stimulate industrial development, reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change. Energy, environment and development ministers from around the world convened during the high-level segment to put their names behind the negotiated policy decisions. Unfortunately, the two-year process did not lead to a major breakthrough. Since numerous issues in the energy and climate change sections of the text remained unresolved until the last day, the Chair, Abdullah Hamad
Energy for Sustainable Development
z
Volume XI No. 2
z
June 2007
News
z
z
of, and the knowledge base on, sources and health impacts of indoor air pollution, in particular on women, children and workers. Provide financial and other resources to support programmes and other activities that address adverse health impacts including public awareness campaigns on indoor air pollution from all sources in developing countries; Replicate and increase, as appropriate, successful approaches and best practices and partnerships to reduce indoor air pollution, such as the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, with a priority focus on practical initiatives that improve air quality; Accelerate the transition from inefficient utilization of biomass to cleaner energy sources, technology, and appliances for cooking and heating and support efforts to disseminate improved
biomass-based technologies and provide incentives for switching to cleaner fuels and technologies; z [...] z Promote the establishment of country and regional air quality standards and norms taking into account WHO air quality guidelines as appropriate; z [...] z Improve collection, compilation and analysis of data, as well as capacities to measure and monitor air pollution and its impact on human health.” The health impacts of indoor air pollution, particularly among women and children, have received more international attention than ever before. Unlike for climate change and access to energy, delegations had agreed on all of the recommendations pertaining to indoor air pollution. Even if these do not form part of an agreed policy document, the raised political profile of the issue and the broad consensus
at CSD-15 support an acceleration of activities to reduce indoor air pollution. But this small success can only be a first step, as the challenge before us is enormous: more than half of the world’s population lack access to modern cooking fuels and technologies and breathe in indoor smoke on a daily basis. Household energy and health at CSD-15: http://www.who.int/indoorair/policy/ hhhcsd15/en/index.html Indoor air pollution: national estimates of burden of disease: http://www.who.int/indoorair/health_ impacts/burden_national/en/ index.html Chair’s summary of CSD-15: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/ policy.htm Eva Rehfuess, Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. E-mail: [email protected]
CSD-15 outcomes regarding sustainable energy announced at REEEP side event In New York, at the 15th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-15), the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) held a side event on sustainable energy for poverty reduction and economic growth. Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of UNIDO, announced plans to create a Vienna Energy Forum comprising all the intergovernmental agencies based in Vienna, such as UNIDO, IAEA, OPEC, IIASA and REEEP. The key themes for the forum would be energy access, energy efficiency and climate change. Daudi Migereko, Minister of Energy from Uganda, announced that his country would begin the process of enacting renewable energy legislation. Migereko is the chairman of the Forum of Energy Ministers of Africa (FEMA) and he called attention to the Maputo Declaration adopted by FEMA to develop sustainable energy sources. Harish Hande from SELCO Power in India presented the case for establishing linkages between energy services, income generation and finance. SELCO has developed models with local banks that allow micro-financing of renewable energy equipment to be secured by the increased revenues from services that result from the use of the equipment (e.g., solar-powered sewing machines). Anita Utseth, Norway’s State Secretary, stated that REEEP’s demand-driven, bottom-up approaches are essential to building trust between developed and developing countries. As REEEP’s second largest donor, she stated that the partnership’s goals are consistent with Norway’s Action Plan for Environment in Development. Renewable energy is only one side of the coin and REEEP is one of the few energy partnerships that bridges renewables with energy efficiency. Paula Dobriansky, US Under Secretary of State, stated that REEEP exemplifies the value of the public-private partnership model. REEEP will be working together with the US government to contribute to international energy efficiency at the WIREC08 conference in Washington. Stephanie Nour from the Canadian consultancy Econoler presented the case for the Brazilian oil company Petrobras’s decision to establish an energy service company (ESCO) for its industrial clients. The event was closed by Ian Pearson, UK Minister of State for Climate Change, who commented on the success of REEEP’s projects and stated that they should now be scaled up and developed further. The UK is also supportive of REEEP’s role in international processes, including the CSD. Eva Pawlowski, Media Relations, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), International Secretariat, Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400, Vienna, Austria.
Energy for Sustainable Development
z
Volume XI No. 2
z
June 2007
83