Agenda
Challenges
Reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels is at the heart of current efforts to address climate change. Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are the dominant contributor to climate change and are projected to increase by 57% by 2030.
UN
Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
Political
As the global population continues to increase; there is a further increase in energy demands. Global crude petroleum production increased to 3,625,168 thousand metric tonnes in 2008 and is likely to continue to increase. As resources diminish and demand increases, prices will also increase.
UN Statistics Division (UNSD)
Status
Role
The UN expects continued growth of nuclear power in the longer term, despite recent difficulties in the sector due to the global economic downturn and the Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
This growth is likely to be due to:
a. An increase in energy and electricity demand growth due to population growth and economic development.
b. Concerns regarding the security of energy supplies and volatile fossil fuel prices.
c. The stable electricity generating costs associated with nuclear power.
The UN recognises the critical role oil and gas exploitation plays in the current global energy mix. However, due to the scarcity of this resource and the implications on climate change from oil and gas exploitation, the UN is promoting the use of renewable energies to be used in addition to oil and gas.
UN-Energy
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Institutional Structure
UN-Energy
UN-Energy is the primary organisation within the UN in the area of non-renewable energy. It functions as a mechanism for interagency collaboration in the field of energy. The key positions are currently held by members from the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA co-ordinates work on nuclear energy within the UN. The organisation works with many partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear energy technologies. The organisation also issues reports in areas such as water resources and energy reserves.
Budget
Current
The UN budget on energy issues has increased in recent years, especially since the foundation of UN-Energy in 2004. The budget for UN-Energy was not accessible; however data was sourced for the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), one of the primary UN agencies on non-renewable energy. The IAEA regular budget for 2010 amounted to €315.4 million. The primary expenditure was on nuclear verification (€121.54 million) and policy, management and administrative services (€77.6 million).
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
History
UN investment into non-renewable technologies extends back to the formation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957. This organisation remains at the fore of nuclear energy expertise.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Key Policies
Oil-for-Food Program
The Oil-for-Food Program was established to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people without increasing Iraq's military powers. The program was funded by the UN Security Council and ran from 1995 to 2003.
Management of Oil Price Volatility
The UN recognizes that high and volatile energy prices are threatening to intensify energy poverty. The World Bank Group (WBG) have issued publications reviewing governmental response to changes in oil supply and price and have provided recommendations on how best to manage this issue.
The UN recommends that governments must continue to pursue measures to protect their economies from future oil cost fluctuations. These measures should include diversifying their energy portfolio and taking steps to improve energy efficiency.
Miscellaneous
Energy, Poverty and Health
The UN recognizes that the energies used in developing countries can often lead to health problems. Indoor air pollution from low quality solid cooking fuels, such as wood and charcoal, imposes a major health hazard on those who are working in the cooking area. It is estimated that this accounts for more than 1.5 million deaths per year, mostly among women and children.
Transition to Globalisation
IAEA Coordinates International Mission on Remediation of Fukushima
This article describes how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is working with Japanese officials in the remediation of off-site areas from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Globalisation > Economy > Energy > Sources > Non-Renewable > Uranium
Transition to Political Tools
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It sets binding targets for member countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Political Tools > Global > UN > Policies > Environment > Climate
Transition to Political Actors
NGOs Judging Oil Palm on Hearsay, Says UN
This article describes how the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is supporting the controversial Palm Oil scheme in Uganda. The UN agency defends the scheme in the face opposition from NGOs.
Political Actors > Civil Society > NGOs > Environment
