The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have underscored their commitment to strengthen cooperation aimed at advancing renewable energy in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
SDG7 on sustainable energy is of critical importance to the achievement of Agenda 2030, if not all the Sustainable Development Goals. The least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states are at risk of being left behind, together in partnership we can make faster progress. We must close energy gaps and support countries transitioning to more sustainable and renewable energy sources by 2030. Countries cannot achieve this alone. We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with IRENA to combine our expertise and comparative advantages to support countries to achieve their renewable energy goals, said UN-OHRLLS Under-Secretary-General Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu.
The two organisations will collaborate on activities to support LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS to build renewables-based energy systems, close the energy access gaps experienced by these groups of countries and harness the socio-economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy.
LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS consist of 91 countries with a total population of 1.1 billion. Access to energy in these vulnerable countries remains a major challenge. About half of the people in the world without electricity live in LDCs.
In 2016, the proportion of the population in LDCs with access to electricity was 44.8 percent. In LLDCs it was 53.1 percent, and in SIDS it was 76.3 percent.
Ending energy poverty in these groups of vulnerable countries and ensuring that no country or person is left behind is critical to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The energy transformation brings significant opportunity to developed and developing countries alike. Renewables are not only our most effective response to rising emissions, but they are also an engine of low-carbon development, supporting energy access, energy security and climate resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries. This partnership bolsters the efforts of both organisations to achieve SDG7 and the wider sustainable development goals, said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera.
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About UN-OHRILLS
UN-OHRLLS is the lead body within the United Nations Secretariat on matters related to least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, with the specific mandate to mobilize and coordinate international support and resources for the effective implementation of: (i) the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020, (ii) the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024; and (iii) SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
