Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda

The Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) Agenda enables member countries to work together to fast-track an inclusive, just and equitable transition to low-carbon energy systems across the Commonwealth.

Energy plays a vital role in global economic growth, underpinning all areas of development. A growing global population and expanding urbanisation means the world will require substantially more energy.

Ensuring access to energy for all is a priority for sustainable development, as reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), a first-ever universal goal on energy, with five targets to be achieved by 2030.

However, the increased global energy demand has a significant impact on the fight against climate change, given that energy production and use contribute about two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions.

To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, which are also reflected in SDG 13, there is an urgent need to transition from fossil fuel-dependent energy systems to more efficient, sustainable and clean energy systems.

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More about the CSET Agenda

The pace of the energy transition needs urgent acceleration. Strong political will and ambition by Commonwealth member countries is required to establish the enabling frameworks to attract finance, scale up technology and lower costs for energy transition.

In June 2019, delegates from across the Commonwealth gathered in London for the inaugural Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Forum. Three pillars of action emerged from their deliberations: (I) Inclusive Transitions; (II) Technology and Innovation and (III) Enabling Frameworks.

The second Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Forum was held virtually in May 2021 to facilitate consensus building, knowledge sharing as well as raised ambitions amongst member countries to accelerate the transition to clean energy systems and achieve the goals of SDG 7.

Member countries were also encouraged to step forward as champions to drive initiatives under the three CSET pillars of action.

The development and implementation of the CSET Agenda will be achieved through the following three key pillars:

Pillar 1: Inclusive Transitions - advocating and promoting equitable and inclusive measures for energy transitions that recognise and address in a meaningful way the impact on economies, communities and industries and advance a transition that leaves no-one behind.
Pillar 2: Technology and Innovation - propagating advances in technology solutions and innovations as well as research and development for sustainable energy systems; leveraging synergies and fostering strong partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Pillar 3: Enabling Frameworks - supporting the development of enabling frameworks including policy, laws, regulations, standards; governance institutions and implementation tools for accelerating energy transitions.

Country-led action groups will drive initiatives under the three CSET pillars of action. The Commonwealth Secretariat will provide technical and administrative support.

The CSET Agenda encourages and promotes collaboration amongst Commonwealth countries in the transition to sustainable energy systems and action towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in particular SDG 7. As such, member-led Action Groups drive the CSET Agenda. These voluntary coalitions comprise of member countries who wish to share knowledge and expertise, align strategies and collaborate on joint initiatives to address key challenges facing the sector.

To date, three Action Groups have been formed on Energy Literacy, Geothermal Action and Youth Action, with ‘Champion Countries’ stepping forward to rally action and steer activities for each.

Energy Literacy

This Action Group launched under the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda, focuses on promoting energy literacy as an important tool for achieving a just and inclusive energy transition across the Commonwealth. Members of the Action Group will share knowledge and best practices and jointly develop initiatives aimed at increasing energy literacy especially amongst children and youth as well as local communities and growing collective awareness of societal changes required to support a just and inclusive energy transition.

Eswatini champions the Action Group on Energy Literacy.

Geothermal Action

This Action Group, launched at the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda, seeks to encourage the development and deployment of technologies and innovations to accelerate the energy transition, including geothermal energy. Currently, geothermal energy makes up less than one percent of renewable energy sources. Only four Commonwealth countries have installed geothermal energy, but significant potential exists to increase significantly by 2050.

Kenya, a world leader in the sector, champions the Action Group on Geothermal Energy.

Youth Action

This action-oriented task force was launched in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2020, under the Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation network. The Action Group will focus on driving youth action under the three pillars of the CSET Agenda, in particular the Technology on Innovation pillar, as well as advocacy for greater youth engagement in the development of policies and regulations for sustainable energy and the energy transition.

This Action Group is led by an interim steering committee made up of representatives from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Tanzania and Singapore.

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