Boosting Rural Energy Development to Combat Poverty: UNDP Forges Partnership with Office of the State Council Energy Leading Group for Sustainable Rural Energy Development

Boosting Rural Energy Development to Combat Poverty: UNDP Forges Partnership with Office of the State Council Energy Leading Group for Sustainable Rural Energy Development

November 23, 2007

    BEIJING, Nov. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Supported by
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China,
the State Council Energy Leading Group is drafting a new
rural energy strategy in China, to be released early 2008,
to establish a vision for future rural energy development
and increase access of the poor to sustainable energy. 

    (Logo:
http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/20061107113358-34-min.jpg )

    This was revealed today at the International Conference
of Rural Energy Development in China, jointly organized by
UNDP and the Office of the State Council Energy Leading
Group.  Rural energy specialists from both developed and
developing countries including USA, Bolivia, Brazil, India,
South Africa, and Thailand exchanged best practices and
visions in fostering rural energy security in the
developing world. 

    "Not only is China's rural energy challenges an
issue of energy, but an issue of development as well,"
said Subinay Nandy, UNDP Country Director in China.
"Increasing demand for rural energy and the challenge
to cope with climate change have brought issues of
sustainable energy development to the top of the national
policy agenda in China."

    "Stable energy supply is critical for poverty
alleviation in developing countries. Clean energy is the
optimal way to develop without exacerbating air pollution
and global warming," Nandy added.  "UNDP is
committed to assisting the government in integrating
sustainable energy solutions into rural planning through
technical assistance, policy recommendations and capacity
building". 

    A newly-released UNDP Report: "Overcoming
Vulnerability to Rising Oil Prices" was also
introduced during the conference.  The report looks at
renewable energy technologies such as small hydro plants,
wind turbines, solar panels, and stoves burning `biomass'.


    Rural energy options that a few years ago might have
seemed futuristic are now entering the mainstream.  As
Nandita Mongia from UNDP Regional Centre in Bankok said,
"If these are futuristic, then the future has already
arrived".

    The Report points out that renewable sources bring some
of their greatest benefits to off-grid remote rural areas
where people often have to rely on diesel or
gasoline-powered generators, because they can get much
cheaper electricity from for example, small hydro schemes
and solar home systems for lighting.

    UNDP fosters human development to empower women and men
to build better lives in China.  As the UN's development
network, UNDP draws on a world of experience to assist
China in developing its own solutions to the country's
development challenges.  Through partnerships and
innovation, UNDP works to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals and an equitable Xiao Kang society by
reducing poverty, strengthening the rule of law, promoting
environmental sustainability, and fighting HIV/AIDS.
http://www.undp.org.cn .


    For more information, please contact: 

     Ms. Zhang Wei
     Communications Officer
     UNDP China 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]