Ambassador Nazarian on sustainable energy

21 January, 2014

Questions for the Ambassador: Garen Nazarian

Ambassador Nazarian, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, answers questions on sustainable energy from students around the globe.

According to the UN report, "1.3 billion people – nearly one in five globally – continue to lack electricity. Forty five percent of the world's population – 3.2 billion people – still rely on wood, charcoal, animal or crop waste or other solid fuels to cook their food and heat their homes". As a UN Ambassador, what haves been your personal contributions to alleviate the issues mentioned above?
Nduka Uzoamaka Chigoziri, Nigeria

To respond to your question, let me share a success story from Armenia. In my mountainous country the winters are long and harsh. Providing sustainable and reliable heat to all residents is a socio-economic challenge. That is why we started focusing on expanding sustainable energy in Armenia and make transformative changes in the lives of citizens. Until recently, residents of one of the rural outskirts of Yerevan, our capital city, had no heating or hot water in their apartments.

Today, thanks to partnerships between the UN, the private sector and the government the construction of an environmentally friendly district heating system, from which a growing number of buildings tap reliable energy supplies, was made possible. The government agreed to guarantee the price of electricity and as a result a private company began building the system and investing in its infrastructure. Thirty large apartment buildings are connected to the system, along with a school and two kindergartens; approximately 50 buildings will soon benefit. Because of the success of this project, we intend to replicate this approach in the whole country.

Which is the role of energy education in Sustainable Energy for All initiative?
Marta Garcia, Spain

We have to start from schools: talk about good examples and good practices in different regions of the world, and encourage each country to introduce environmental education in their national curriculum in order to further sustainable development and poverty eradication. The Rio World Conference on Sustainable Development devoted an entire section regarding education in its outcome document that highlighted the role of educational institutions, particularly universities, in conducting research and innovation for sustainable development, including the field of energy education. It is important that we continue our incessant drive to develop quality and innovative programs in the context of the "Sustainable Energy for All" initiative.

Name 3 specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bounded actions that every country can perform, towards faster attainment of a more sustainable production and usage of energies globally.
Calvin Lim, Singapore

I believe that the 'Think Global, Act Local' mantra is a sound approach. If I recall it correctly this was used in the context of environmental challenges, but can be applied to the sustainable production and usage of energies. Here are my three specifics:
• Each country should introduce environmental education in their national curriculum in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication at various levels in the education system.
• Next, countries should invest in innovation and research programs in national higher educational hubs.
• Finally, countries should make changes in their policies and programs that would guarantee transformative change on the local, regional and eventually global levels in the fields of energy production and use through inclusive and accountable decision-making processes.

Why are climate and energy issues not more deeply integrated into the Millennium Development Goals? For example, many health and resource related issues are better approached through the lens of climate change, and sustainable sources of energy can play a large role in poverty reduction through business and home use. Climate and energy issues often cause these other problems, but they are treated as one would treat the symptom of a disease, though treating the source of the problems may be more effective in the long term.
David Rissman, USA

I agree with the premise of your question. I have heard the position of many member states at the UN underscoring that climate change impacts progress in achieving the MDGs in their respective countries and in many regions of the world. On the other hand, it is also true that progress with the MDGs contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the vulnerability of those states and regions and their populations, and increasing their capacities to better respond to changing environmental factors. Renewable energy use and improving energy efficiency are part of broader national and international efforts to reduce poverty and achieve the MDGs.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to students looking to bring energy access to the world's poor?
Janice Tran, Canada

In developing countries energy access is fundamental to fulfilling basic social needs, advancing economic growth and human development. In Armenia for example, the United Nations promote energy access programs, expand renewable energy use, and improve energy efficiency, as part of broader international efforts to reduce poverty and achieve the MDGs (millennium development goals). In order to further this process, sharing experiences and expertise among students, schools, higher education institutions, and professionals on the good practices in this important field, particularly pertaining to energy access in rural areas, is necessary.

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