International Engineering Societies Call on Governments to Support the United Nations "Sustainable Energy for All" Initiative

LONDON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- We, the undersigned international engineering societies, with a combined membership of over 750,000, hereby commit our support to achieving Sustainable Energy for All.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon built on the UN General Assembly's Resolution declaring 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All by establishing a new UN global initiative, "Sustainable Energy for All," aimed at achieving three interlinked objectives by 2030:

• Ensuring universal access to modern energy services,
• Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency,
• Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Today, some 20 percent of the world's population, 1.3 billion people, still live without access to electricity, and more than twice that many lack safe and sustainable methods of heating and cooking. 

In drawing attention to these issues and introducing this initiative, the UN Secretary-General said: "Widespread energy poverty condemns billions to darkness, to ill health, to missed opportunities for education and prosperity.  That is why I say that energy poverty must end.  Development is not possible without energy, and sustainable development is not possible without sustainable energy."

We fully endorse the Secretary General's vision and goal of achieving Sustainable Energy for All by 2030 and will strive to help achieve the goals stated above. 

In the 20^th century, members of the engineering profession created the technologies and built the systems that provide safe and reliable energy to most of the world.  Through the combined resources of our organizations and through our members around the world, we will continue this rich tradition and serve as advocates for providing sustainable energy everywhere. In particular we will work towards the development of the necessary technologies, the establishment of supportive public policies, and the financial investments needed to make this goal a reality.

We encourage other like-minded societies and industries to join us in our support for Sustainable Energy for All and urge all nations participating in the forthcoming Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to commit to the goal of achieving Sustainable Energy for All by 2030.

International Engineering Societies Call on Governments to Support the United Nations "Sustainable Energy for All" Initiative
http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/

Endorsing Societies and Contacts

IEEE
Tara Wisniewski
Director, Social Innovation Programs
[email protected]
1 917 747 3312
www.ieee.org

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Dr Tony Whitehead
Director of Governance & Policy
[email protected]
44 (0) 1438 767416
www.theiet.org

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMECHE)
Colin Brown
Director of Engineering
[email protected]
44 (0)20 7973 1253
www.imeche.org

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Andrew Crudgington
Head of Policy
[email protected]
44 (0) 2076 652219
www.ice.org.uk

SOURCE IEEE