18 May 2021 | UCLG ASPAC shared the interests of cities and local governments in the Asia-Pacific region on clean and affordable energy during the launch event for ESCAP-UNEP Report SDG7 Localisation: Affordable and Clean Energy in ASEAN cities’ and REN21’s Renewables in Cities 2021 Global Status Report. The discussion was expected to spark insights for the way forward on the clean and renewable energy efforts in respective fields.
To begin with, UCLG ASPAC exposed its finding from a survey conducted with UN ESCAP. From the survey, we have seen that SDG7 is ranked middling or 8th in terms of prioritisation amongst the different SDGs at the local level, out of the 17 goals. This is higher than the ranking of attention levels given to individual SDGs by 100 out of the 158 national governments that submitted Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of the first HLPF cycle (2016-2019), as analysed using machine learning, whereby SDG 7 was ranked 13th.
The survey also reveals that 77% of respondents prioritised the localisation activities under Goal 7. Actions taken were varied from integrating Goal 7 into local development policy, increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, as well as collecting, monitoring and reporting data on energy efficiency, access and renewable energy.
UCLG ASPAC also presented the practical interests it found in clean and renewable energy technologies among local governments, such as waste-to-energy projects, applications of solar and wind energy, and applications of mini-hydro.
Most importantly, UCLG ASPAC shared some areas of support it did as a network organisation, which included access to funding, international networking, capacity building, and knowledge exchanges, in addition to advancing narrative development and preferences of local governments on the energy issues.
Representing UCLG ASPAC was Secretary-General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi sharing that “Local governments need a practical roadmap, case study database and a decision support tool that can help cities make the optimum decision on planning, implementation and investment in the energy sector, based on individual existing conditions. At the same time, we need continuous advocacy and peer-to-peer networking to leverage the power of collective action.”
UCLG ASPAC is glad to be part of the research and analytical work through the “SDG7 Localisation – Affordable and Clean Energy in ASEAN Cities.” UCLG ASPAC thanks UN ESCAP and UNEP for the opportunity and looking forward to upcoming collaborations!
