To bring policy makers, experts, manufacturers and practitioners together for sharing ideas on renewable energy and energy efficiency, UNDP and the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Bhutan are jointly conducting a three-day International Symposium on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Initiatives: Policies, Technologies and Sustainability.’

The International Symposium aims at strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of organizations that develop and implement renewable energy programmes and strategies. Bhutan has already embarked on a journey for renewable energy in future.

Currently, the Department of Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is formulating an energy efficiency policy, which would help meet popular energy needs while respecting the country’s long term environmental goals. 

Addressing the participants at the symposium, UN Resident Coordinator Christina Carlson said, “The world currently faces a set of urgent, interconnected challenges owing to the lack of access to efficient, clean and affordable energy.”

Globally, emissions from burning fossil fuels contribute greatly to global warming and climate change which necessitates assessment on how people use energy. Sustainable Development Goals will be a prime area of focus for UN so that countries can focus on achieving new solutions to energy issues post-2015.

According to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, sustainable energy can revitalize economies, strengthen social equity and catalyze clean energy revolution that benefits all humanity.  He says, “Acting together, we can open new horizons today and help power a brighter tomorrow.” 

As the symposium proceeds, national speakers representing the government of Bhutan and international guest speakers will present and hold discussions on the way forward for and to come up with recommendations to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Bhutan and across South Asia.

Supporting sustainable energy efforts through the Climate Change Mitigation and Energy portfolios has been one of the major focus of UNDP in Bhutan. To achieve this, UNDP in Bhutan has started projects on sustainable rural biomass energy, low emission capacity building, HCFC phase out management plan and energy efficiency.

Truong Duy