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.
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.
Energy Literacy
This Action Group, to be announced in early 2022, 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.
More Action Groups will be added soon.
- Clean Energy Toolkit for Small Island Developing States, in partnership with SE4All
- Pathfinders Initiative, in collaboration with Bloomberg New Energy Finance
- Partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
Sustainable Energy Transition Series
- Enabling Frameworks for Sustainable Energy Transition
- Inclusive Energy Transition
- Technology and Innovation in Sustainable Energy Transition
- Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition: Pathways and Progress (coming soon)
- Roads to clean energy (PDF)
- Energy and me (PDF)
- Energy around us (PDF)
Contact us
Please e-mail us for more information on the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda.
Our team includes:
- Dr Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, Head, Oceans and Natural Resources
- Alache Fisho, Legal Adviser and Lead, Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda
- Victor Kitange, Economic Adviser, Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda
