The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, saying access to modern affordable energy services in developing countries is essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development, helping to reduce poverty and improve the conditions and standard of living for the majority of the world’s population.
The Sustainable Energy for All Initiative has been put forward to support the year by mobilizing action from governments, the private sector, and civil society partners globally. It has set three objectives: ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Vietnam will take action to put the UN initiative in place under its circumstances and will take an active part in the Rio+ forum, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan told UNDP Resident Coordinator Pratibha Mehta at a reception in Hanoi on May 10.
Nhan thanked UNDP for its valuable assistance to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and confirmed Vietnam’s commitment to using energy sustainably to harmonise the three pillars of sustainable development, namely economics, social affairs and the environment.
For her part, Mehta welcomed Vietnam’s strong response to the initiative, which she said will help the country easily achieve its development goals, including the UN Millennium Development Goals.
She said the Rio+ conference will offer the chance for Vietnam to seek and attract foreign investors and mobilize other resources to meet initiative objectives.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan will attend the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 15-18.
(V.O.V)