Vienna Energy Forum 2018 kicks off

Over 300 energy experts, including government ministers, representatives from the UN system and other international organizations, as well as delegates from the private sector and academia gathered in the Austrian capital on Monday to re-energize the global discussion on achieving Sustainable Energy for everyone.

This year’s special session of the Vienna Energy Forum (VEF2018) focuses on the importance of energy system transformation, innovative climate technology, and partnerships for increasing access to energy around the world.  This special session will support the UN’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in its review of the global progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on sustainable and affordable energy.

“This year’s SDG 7 review at the High-Level Political Forum presents a critical occasion for taking stock, strengthening our energy-related commitments and redoubling our efforts to meet SDG7 targets,” said Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the UN. “Outcomes of this year’s Vienna Energy Forum will inform the High-Level Political Forum’s review of SDG7 on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”

The participants of the forum will explore how new technologies are enabling smarter, more decentralized and sustainable ways to produce and deliver energy to consumers. They will also look at the potential of entrepreneurship to drive the development and implementation of technological advances, and the key role of technology cooperation and exchange for increasing global access to clean energy sources.

On 15 May, VEF2018 will hold a side-event at the Austrian World Summit to present its key outcomes and to discuss the role of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship for empowering women and youth.

The Forum will also host the Private Financing Advisory Network’s Climate and Clean Energy Investment Forum on 16 May. The event will bring together innovators and entrepreneurs to provide innovative business solutions with concrete investment opportunities to curb greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate change resilience.

The Vienna Energy Forum is organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and in collaboration with Austria’s Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).