25copper.jpg
By Steve Kukoda, Vice President, International Copper Association, Ltd.
The work of the GEF has been critical in ways too numerous to list fully in this space. The GEF has long recognized the value of collaboration through public-private partnerships, and these PPPs have made significant impacts and continue to do so.
The GEF has been visionary when it comes to PPPs, recognizing the need for global coordination on key sustainable development priorities, like climate change mitigation. In particular, the GEF has been on the leading edge when it comes to recognizing the importance of energy efficiency partnerships for climate change mitigation efforts. In this space, the GEF is funding several Energy Efficiency Accelerators under the UN’s Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL) initiative. The importance of energy efficiency actions on climate change is underscored by a recent International Energy Agency report, which shows that half of the actions needed to meet the goal of limiting manmade climate change below two-degrees Celsius can come from energy efficiency.
Funding for the SE4ALL Accelerators is enabling the needed scale-up of energy efficiency programs across regional, national and sub-national jurisdictions in the developing world that will help to ensure the goals agreed upon at COP21 are realized. One such project is United For Efficiency, which is focused on market transformations towards energy efficient lighting, appliances and industrial equipment. U4E would not be possible without the ongoing commitment of the GEF.
The International Copper Association is proud to be a long-standing partner of the Global Environment Facility. ICA and its members offer congratulations on the GEF’s 25th anniversary, and wish you continued success for many years to come.
U4E Website: http://united4efficiency.org/
U4E Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6KE8nXcmVg
