This publication seeks to structure the approach to the current discussion on bioenergy. "Sustainable Bioenergy: A Framework for Decision Makers": is the contribution of the UN system to the issues that need further attention, analysis and valuation, so that appropriate trade-offs can be made and both the energy needs of people are met and the local and global environment are adequately protected.

U.N.: Not so fast with ethanol, other biofuels
Unchecked growth could see new problems offset climate gains, report says

ROME - Biofuels like ethanol can help reduce global warming and create jobs for the rural poor, but the benefits may be offset by serious environmental problems and increased food prices for the hungry, the United Nations concluded Tuesday in its first major report on bioenergy.

In an agency-wide assessment, the United Nations raised alarms about the potential negative impact of biofuels, just days after a climate conference in Bangkok said the world had both the money and technology to prevent the sharp rise in global temperatures blamed in part on greenhouse gas emissions.

“Unless new policies are enacted to protect threatened lands, secure socially acceptable land use, and steer bioenergy development in a sustainable direction overall, the environmental and social damage could in some cases outweigh the benefits,” the report stated.

Biofuels, which are made from corn, palm oil, sugar cane and other agricultural products, have been seen by many as a cleaner and cheaper way to meet the world’s soaring energy needs than with greenhouse-gas emitting fossil fuels. (MSNBC News)

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UN-Energy, the interagency mechanism on energy, has addressed the importance of access to energy in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in its recent report entitled The Energy Challenge for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The report draws on the collective expertise of the entire United Nations system, including the World Bank, and argues that the lack of modern fuels and electricity in most developing countries entrenches poverty, constrains the delivery of social services, limits opportunities for women, and erodes environmental sustainability. Currently 1.6 billion people lack access to electricity and 2.4 billion people lack access to modern fuels for cooking and heating.

About UN-Energy

UN-Energy was established to help ensure coherence in the UN system’s multi-disciplinary response to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and to ensure the effective engagement of non-UN stakeholders in implementing WSSD energy-related decisions. It aims to promote system-wide collaboration in the area of energy with a coherent and consistent approach since there is no single entity in the UN system that has primary responsibility for energy.

The group focuses on substantive and collaborative actions both in regard to policy development in the energy area and its implementation as well as in maintaining an overview of major ongoing initiatives within the system based on the UN-Energy work programme at global, regional sub-regional and national levels. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), decisions taken at CSD-9, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and Agenda 21 serve as the basis for action on energy.

In August 2007, the group elected Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General, United Nations Development Organization (UNIDO) as Chair and Olav Kjorven, Assistant Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as Vice Chair. Secretariat services are provided by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

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