Small Island Developing States and Energy

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Small Island Developing States and Energy

• The Barbados Programme of Action
• Espen Ronneberg
• Inter-regional Advisor for SIDS
• Division for Sustainable Development
• DESA, United Nations
• Nicosia Cyprus
• www.sidsnet.org

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The relevance of BPOA

• SIDS cooperated in framing an international
  agenda for sustainable development in SIDS, the
  Barbados Program of Action, which includes issues
  such as
• Climate Change
• Energy
• Biodiversity
• Coastal and Marine Resources
• Sustainable Tourism
• Trade

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CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE SIDS UNIT
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Two Key Roles

• The SIDS Unit is charged with coordinating UN
  system wide efforts at implementing the Barbados
  Program of Action
• Assisting SIDS with key issues identified in
  consultations with AOSIS

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Activities to date

• Donor/SIDS Conference Feb. 1999
• Brought together representatives to discuss
  possible projects and funding
• 22nd Special Session of the General Assembly
• AOSIS workshops on climate change and on
  biosafety convened

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Internet-based Services

• SIDSNet is now an integrated part of the SIDS
  Unit, with a range of services
• Mirrored sites, such as SPREP, USP, UNDP Trinidad
  and Tobago, UNDP Mauritius, SOPAC, and others
• AOSIS Web Pages
• Information on the workshops and reports

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Capacity Building Workshops

• AOSIS has stressed the need to build capacity in
  a number of negotiations related areas, starting
  with climate change
• This is the third climate change workshop
• Capacity is developed through the discussions,
  debates and materials disseminated
• Common positions are agreed upon for
  recommendation to AOSIS negotiators

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What does BPOA tell us?

• The energy resources of SIDS must be developed in
  a sustainable manner
• bearing in mind the economic obstacles
• finding the most practical solutions for that
  locale
• SIDS are recognized as a special case for
  financing
• must find ways to institutionalize

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Key issues for the workshop
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Three key outputs

• AOSIS common positions for CSD9
• to be negotiated as a group
• AOSIS project development
• National and regional projects to be advocated as
  solutions at CSD9
• AOSIS common positions for climate change
  negotiations related to energy

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Requirements for success

• Strong and active participation in the workshop
  and working groups
• Significant improvements in the details to be
  negotiated at CSD9
• Pragmatic and practical ideas for inclusion in
  the workshop report

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Assistance from SIDS Unit

• AOSIS Decision Support System
• A closed decision support system on SIDSNet
• Capacity building training for AOSIS
• Experts Database
• Online database of SIDS experts/professionals on
  SIDSNet - by region and by expertise
• Remote data upload, remote management and search
  by country or sectoral expertise or both

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Assistance (continued)

• Climate Change issues exchange
• Experiences from the country teams
• Information on project proposals or current
  activities, especially on adaptation, research,
  SIDS friendly technologies
• Experts Database
• SIDS experts can be used for projects and advice
• Advisory function improves information flows
  across regions and within countries

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Demand side management

• Win-win opportunities exist
• Possible projects could be implemented in
  residential heating and cooling
• Energy efficient appliances
• Power generation and distribution

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Supply side management

• Energy needs will increase, hence adjust
• Waste to energy represents significant source of
  energy
• Alternative uses of existing resources through
  eg. solar energy
• Cogeneration
• Innovative application of new technologies such
  as OTEC

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The Bottom Line

• Be aware of the limitations and constraints
• high level of needs, low capacity to absorb, etc.
• UN system can only contribute part of financing
• SIDS need to invest in and promote renewable
  energy technology
• through national energy policies or through
  national budgets
• AOSIS can contribute much to CSD
• partnerships, cooperation with donors, NGOs, etc.

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Thank youwww.sidsnet.org