Day: 22th February, 2023 | Wednesday
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm IST | Click here for time in your location
Venue: Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Context

Attaining energy security has been one of the central pillars for countries around the world as energy is essential for human development and economic growth. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, is Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is important to note that the nature of access is also qualified by being reliable and affordable enough to ensure the fulfillment of a basic bundle of energy needs to meet development objectives, that is, the lifeline energy. The Russia–Ukraine conflict situation has had an impact on energy security especially in the EU where countries are speeding away from reliance on fossil fuels. Increasing the share of renewable energy also means that energy demand side needs to respond to this change in the energy mix.

Just Transitions and Energy Demand Interventions

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over the last two decades energy consumption in sectors has increased by about 80%. Energy consumption sectors include industry, transport, residential sectors, and agriculture. Sectors such as MSMEs and agriculture have a huge bearing in terms of implications for employment and livelihoods. Although there are some policy interventions, there is a scope for much more from an energy demand perspective especially in sectors such as agriculture and MSMEs. The dominant narrative on energy transitions has been from a supply side perspective. Even in the narratives around climate change, Just Transitions narrative has been highjacked by only supply side discussions. Demand side dimensions need equal, if not more attention in energy-security discourses. A holistic approach is needed for inclusiveness in clean energy transitions by considering both supply side and demand side dimensions. Demand side measures would need reliability and compatibility of energy supply aspects to enable lifeline energy consumption for various energy demand uses.

Gendered Perspectives

In terms of policy level interventions, a growing body of evidence suggests that gender disparities have rarely been addressed as part of national energy policies and only a few energy policies have included gender mainstreaming in their frameworks. The non-availability of gender-disaggregated data to inform energy policies makes it difficult to factor gender considerations in the energy discourse. For gender inclusion in energy sector, data on gender at disaggregated level is required which is missing at this point, specifically for the three sectors, that is, transport, MSMEs, and agriculture. This data gap needs to be given a greater attention for MSMEs and agriculture due to the nature of informality of these sectors.

Strengthening SDG 7 Indicator Frameworks

There is a need to push for global indicator frameworks on SDGs to report and monitor in energy demand side indicators along with gender disaggregated data. Presently, energy-related indicators in SDGs are limited to supply side measures along with reporting on household cooking and lighting indicators.

Rationale

To meet the imperatives of inclusion in energy transitions in terms of availability, accessibility, affordability, awareness, acceptability, and reliability of energy and leaving no one behind, policy interventions largely focus on supply measures and household demand side. Inclusiveness cannot be achieved without addressing the supply and demand sides simultaneously. Thus, factoring inclusion the demand side interventions in energy transitions is an emerging area and needs to be understood better.

Key Questions (speakers are requested to address all/ at least two questions)

[1] The five pillars of the Green Development Pact, under India’s G20 Presidency, are envisaged to include: Lifestyle of Environment (LiFE), Circular Economy, Climate Finance, Accelerating Progress on SDGs, and Energy Transitions & Energy Security. What are your proposals on G20 collaboration to address the energy trilemma of energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability?

[2] In recent times, discussions on just transitions largely focus on the ‘energy supply’ side, especially when it concerns coal as a fuel. How can propagators of Just Transitions, promote holistic approach in clean energy transitions by considering both supply side and demand side dimensions?

[3] How can gender aspects be better mainstreamed in energy policies and practices?

[4] An economy wide quantified energy efficiency goal (for example in Mtoe units in final and primary energy consumption) could be a driving factor that provides further momentum to the energy efficiency. Is it time for countries such as India to consider a quantified energy efficiency target?

[5] Presently, energy-related indicators in SDGs are limited to supply side measures along with reporting on household cooking and lighting indicators. How can global indicator frameworks be strengthened to include aspects of energy demand as they pertain to MSMEs, agriculture, access to finance & technology, and capacity building?

Format

The session will involve a chaired/ moderated discussion, which will start with brief remarks by the chair/ moderator followed by brief addresses/ statements (~5 minutes) by the speakers. After the addresses, depending on the remaining time, the chair will pose 1–2 questions to the esteemed speakers based on issues emerging from the addresses. The chair/ moderator will then sum up the discussions. The total length of the panel discussion is 60 minutes. The addresses should be in the form of verbal interventions only. The WSDS Secretariat requests speakers to avoid using power point presentations. Strict time management is to be followed, for which there will be a timer/ buzzer.