Brussels, 17/11/2017

As part of its commitment to tackle climate change, EURELECTRIC, the European electricity association today announces partnerships with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These partnerships will contribute to providing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, as an important part of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7.

“EURELECTRIC is honoured to become a partner of Sustainable Energy for All. Access to sustainable energy is a key prerequisite to combating poverty and fostering growth in developing countries. Improving access to clean electricity means bringing energy independence and security to vulnerable people, while also providing an important tool in the battle against climate change,” said Kristian Ruby, EURELECTRIC Secretary General.
 
 “If we’re to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030, we need to focus on partnerships that deliver affordable, clean and modern energy to all. The commitment of the SDGs and Paris Agreement was that we leave no one behind. We welcome the leadership of EURELECTRIC, who is supporting the planning and delivery of energy access to some of the most marginalized and displaced people around the world. We must all go further, faster and together, to meet our goals,” said Rachel Kyte, CEO and Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General, Sustainable Energy for All.
 
In the midst of responding to humanitarian crises, access to safe, reliable and clean energy for crises-affected people can be difficult to achieve. Accordingly to UNHCR, 65.6 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced in 2016. Some 22.5 million of them are refugees who were forced to flee their home country due to war or persecution and who are often directly exposed to the effects of climate change.

EURELECTRIC is also proud to announce the partnership with the UNHCR aimed at providing refugees in emerging and developing countries with sustainable and reliable access to energy. The partnership will help the UNHCR identify the modern technologies, equipment and synergies to make the best use of electricity that is generated and consumed. The partnership will engage several of Europe’s major energy companies who will provide energy expertise to the UNHCR, assess energy needs and evaluate optimal solutions.

Read more in the press release published today.

ENDS

Note to editors:

About EURELECTRIC:

EURELECTRIC, the Union of the Electricity Industry, is the sector association representing the common interests of the electricity industry at the pan-European level. EURELECTRIC represents 3,500 companies across Europe with an aggregate turnover of €200 billion. It covers all major issues affecting the sector, from electricity generation and markets, to distribution networks, customers, as well as environment and sustainability issues.

About Sustainable Energy for All:

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) empowers leaders to broker partnerships and unlock finance to achieve universal access to sustainable energy, as a contribution to a cleaner, just and prosperous world for all. SEforALL exists to reduce the carbon intensity of energy while making it available to everyone on the planet. For more information, visit SEforALL.org and follow us at @SEforALLorg.

Media contacts:

EURELECTIC contact: Anamaria Olaru, aolaru@eurelectric.org, +32 483 45 92 42

Sustainable Energy for All: Beth Woodthorpe-Evans, beth@SEforALL.org, +1 202 390 1042