International brainstorming session on 'Barriers to, and Capacity Building Needs for, Achieving Sustainable Energy for All'

The UN Secretary-General's global initiative on "Sustainable Energy for All" is primarily designed to transform the energy sector by 2030. Past experiences in many countries have clearly brought out the gaps that exist in different areas of sustainable energy dispensation as well as the transformational impacts of right kinds of capacity development. This vast body of knowledge is especially meaningful when viewed against the backdrop of capacity development as sharing of this knowledge could help countries traverse the sustainable energy pathway much faster, without everyone having to reinvent the wheel. Financing is another aspect that needs closer attention since a lot of it is expected from private sector.

This brainstorming session on 5 February 2014 attempted to bring together the relevant actors and practitioners to delineate the financing and capacity needs, and to deliberate on the possible solutions. Those present during the session were Dr Leena Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, TERI University and Hon. Executive Director, TERI; Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella (Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative); Dr Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; Mr I H Rehman (Director, Social Transformation Division, TERI); Mr B K Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India; and Mr Amit Kumar (Director, Energy Environment Technology Division, TERI).