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Interview with ei1c Ro hg. Director Sustainable
Energy Division,, conomi Commission for Europe

Q: The ECE has a long responded with both a problems are daunting. Framework Classification,
history going back to forum for an intergovern- Sustainable
so as to increase transpa-
energy
the very beginning of mental dialogue and practi- development is just as rency and knowledge on
the UN, and it's known cal work through its expert challenging. Ensuring the the future availability of
to be a technical body. groups and technical assis- environmentally benign fossil energy and mineral
To what extent has it tance projects. use of energy resources and resources as well as to bet-
already dealt with their availability for future ter manage these resources
energy over time, which is the sub-
questions
0: Energy security is generations will not be
during ject of much interest and
its
long
not a clearly defined easy to achieve. But it does
history? concept. What exactly offer a positive long-term work by one of the expert
under
the
does the ECE mean by dimension to the urgent groups
Energy has always been this? need for secure energy Committee.
important for the UNECE. supplies. In fact, a
When the Commission was There are a number of key sustainable energy future is Energy efficiency can both
founded in 1947, it took reasons why energy securi- most likely to be a reduce import dependency
over the European Coal ty has emerged again as an consequence of prudent for importing countries
Organisation that had been overriding while freeing up additional
economic energy security polices
created urgently towards concern. Since 2003 stee- pursued today. resources for export in
the end of the Second ply rising oil import energy exporting countries.
World War. The ECE was demand in developing 0: Apart from projects The UNECE Energy
launched as a two-track countries and the narro- working on standards Efficiency 21 Project, as
organisation providing a wing margin between oil for pipelines, what else well as Regional Advisory
policy dialogue in the supply and demand have do you do in this field? Services, provides self-
annual Commission ses- driven up prices. The vola- financing methods for
sions and practical work tility of oil prices is further The Committee on reducing greenhouse gas
through technical commit- aggravated by international Sustainable Energy is emissions through energy
tees. The first practical task tensions, terrorism and structured to promote inter- efficiency improvements
of the UNECE Coal potential supply disrup- national cooperation on that can also reduce import
Committee was to help tions. Hydrocarbon reser- exactly these polices and dependencies and alleviate
alleviate acute post-war ves and resources are abun- measures: fuel poverty.
coal shortages. East-west dant globally, but they are
energy cooperation expan- concentrated in a few geo- Energy security, so vital to Coal, one of the most secu-
ded thereafter to include graphic regions some of member countries, has re sources of energy, can
work on the production, which are economically been addressed through the provide energy security as
consumption and trade of vulnerable and unstable. Energy Security Forum an indigenous fuel in many
coal, electric power and Even developing these that brought together high- ECE countries so long as
natural gas. Energy securi- reserves in some countries level representatives of the its production and use can
ty arose as a priority during is difficult because of the energy industries and the be made environmentally
the 1970s 'energy crisis' as restricted access of oil and financial sector under the acceptable by introducing
east-west energy trade and gas companies. While auspices of the Committee. clean coal and zero emis-
cooperation allowed wes- energy-consuming coun- In 2006 the Committee sion technologies. This
tern consuming countries tries seek the security of decided to pursue this forms part of the
to diversify their sources of energy supplies, energy important matter directly Committee's work on
Electricity
oil and natural gas supplies producers seek the security during its annual meetings. Cleaner
away from the Middle of energy demand to dimi- Production from Coal and
East. As energy security nish the risks associated Energy reserves and Other Fossil Fuels as well
has risen to the top of the with large long-term resources need to be as a UN Development
economic agenda again investments. classified and evaluated Account project.
during the last few years, using a reliable, global
the UNECE Committee on Clearly the range, magnitu- common system, such as Coal Mine Methane can
Sustainable Energy has de and complexity of these the United Nations enhance energy security by
providing opportunities for
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