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The Global Efficient Lighting Forum
By: Mark Radka, Chief, Energy Branch, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, UNEP
In May 2013, carbon dioxide levels rose above 400 parts per million, the highest concentration in human history. The last time the CO2 concentration was this high, occurred over two and a half million years ago. The science is very clear that if we are to avoid the dangerous impacts of climate change emissions, greenhouse gases must be reduced, and quickly. Decreasing the amount of electricity needed to light our homes, businesses, and factories is one way to reduce CO2 emissions quickly and at little, if any, cost.
The UNEP Global Efficient Lighting Forum will bring together major global and national stakeholders committed to bringing about a global transition to energy efficient lighting. It will mark the first time that governments, regional organizations, the private sector, development agencies, and international financial institutions will develop jointly a voluntary action plan for a coordinated global move to energy efficient lighting in all sectors.
The benefits would be huge. Replacing all inefficient on-grid lighting around the world with energy efficient alternatives would save almost 1,000 terawatts of electricity each year, cutting over US$ 100 billion from electricity bills and preventing over 490 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. If off-grid lighting were included, the CO2 not released to the atmosphere each year would amount to an estimated 580 million tonnes, more than the emissions of the United Kingdom or the equivalent of over 140 million mid-size cars.
The shift to energy efficient lighting has seen encouraging progress in many countries but transforming lighting markets in all countries remains a challenge. The Global Efficient Lighting Forum will address the issues that need to be tackled if a sustainable transition to energy efficient lighting is to occur more rapidly and at a global scale. Among these are the lack of a coordinated international strategy that clearly defines priorities and the steps that must be taken to transform markets at the global level.
The Global Action Plan that will be defined at the Forum will provide a clear foundation for the implementation and timing of measures at all levels, helping ensure a coordinated shift to efficient lighting technologies.
The UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative seeks to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. It has identified advanced lighting as a “High Impact Opportunity” and UNEP, through the en.lighten initiative, is the global co-lead in this area. The recommendations and key actions arising from the Global Efficient Lighting Forum will ultimately contribute to achieve the goals of SE4All.
UNEP encourages all governments, international organizations and private sector companies in the field of lighting to participate in Beijing, from 11-12 November, to help define this global roadmap.
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