New UN Collaborating Centre for Energy Efficient Lighting Opens in Beijing to Accelerate Global Phase-Out Plans Beijing, 31 October 2012 -The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners announced the opening of the Global Efficient Lighting Centre (GELC) in Beijing, China. Launched by UNEP and the Chinese National Lighting Test Centre, the GELC is designed to support the rapid deployment of energy efficient technologies in developing and emerging countries by assisting in the establishment or strengthening of national and/or regional lighting laboratories.

A Consultant for the Global Efficient Lighting Project is required Paris, 31 August 2012 - A consultant is required to drive and deliver en.lighten activities within the Centre of Excellence; launch and supervise the Global Efficient Lighting Partnership Programme in selected countries and develop technical guidance and recommendations. The position is available as of November 1st and the deadline for application is September 20, 2012. The duration of the contract will be one year.

For details of the position, please click here For more information and to submit your qualifications, please contact:

Mr. Gustavo Manez, Programme Manager, en.lighten initiative Gustavo.manez@unep.org

en.lighten press conference at Rio +20 highlights the phase-out of inefficient lighting to deliver major economic and climate benefits by 2016. Rio de Janeiro, 21 June 2012 - A total of five percent of global electricity consumption could be saved every year through a transition to efficient lighting, resulting in annual worldwide savings of over US$ 110 billion. These are among the main findings of 150 country lighting assessments and a new global policy map on efficient lighting.

The new en.lighten video was also released and emphasizes the fact that a simple shift to efficient lighting would cut the global electricity used for lighting by half.

A Senior Technical Advisor is required for the UNEP/GEF Phasing out Incandescent Lamps through Lighting Market Transformation project in Vietnam Paris, 01 March 2012 - The Government of Vietnam and UNEP have developed a project entitled ‘Phasing out incandescent lamps through market transformation in Vietnam” which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The overall aim of the project is to phase out incandescent lamp production and sales in Vietnam through the transformation of the lighting market and the promotion of high quality, energy saving lamps.

The position is available immediately with a start date no later than April 1, 2012. The duration of the contract will initially be for six months but may be extended based on performance.

For details of the position, please click here For more information and to submit your qualifications, please contact:

Mr. Rajiv Garg, Programme Officer, Southeast Asia Climate Change Network
+66 -2 -288-2621. rajiv.garg@uenp.org

New article by Mr. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, features the global phase-out of incandescent lamps by 2016. Paris, 16 February 2012 - The February 15th issue of the IISD Climate Change Daily Feed features a guest article by Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director about the global phase-out of incandescent lamps by 2016. In the piece, Mr. Steiner calls all countries which have not done so yet, to join the Global Efficient Lighting Partnership developed by en.lighten to assist countries meet the 2016 target date.


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Major announcements made at en.lighten press conference at COP17 Durban, South Africa, 7 December 2011 - "If a global temperature rise is to be kept under 2 degrees C, we need to act on multiple fronts, including voluntary and legally binding actions. Fast tracking more energy-efficient lighting is without doubt one of the low hanging fruit offering not only emissions saving but cost savings to a company or a household's budget," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.
"This UNEP/GEF Global Partnership is switching off old bulbs and switching on a path to a more low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy. The aim of achieving a global phase-out by 2016 is not only possible but infinitely do-able," he added.

See UNFCCC Webcast

The Transition to Efficient Lighting in Southeast Asia Singapore, 4 November 2011 - On 4 November 2011, government representatives from 14 countries from Southeast Asia voiced their support for the global transition to energy efficient lighting. Participants at the UNEP/GEF en.lighten regional workshop agreed that the phase-out of incandescent lamps is one of the easiest ways to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve significant energy and financial savings.

Government Officials in the Middle East Join the UNEP/GEF en.lighten Partnership to Phase-out Inefficient Lighting Beirut, 30 September 2011 - Beirut, 30 September 2011 -Government representatives from 16 countries from the Middle East and North Africa have voiced their support for the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs. Such a move could save the region an estimated US$3 billion a year in energy costs.

Inaugural Regional Workshop in Latin America and the Caribbean leads to “Santo Domingo Declaration”Domingo, 4 August 2011 - Santo Domingo, 4 August 2011-Government representatives from 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have agreed to adopt the “Santo Domingo Declaration” to phase-out incandescent light bulbs. Such a move could save the region an estimated US$4 billion a year in energy costs.

A global transition to efficient lighting Cancun, 3 December 2010 - The CEOs of OSRAM and Philips Lighting contributed to the publication of the 4th edition of Climate Action by writing a timely article that described the en.lighten initiative and urged countries, stakeholders and civil society to phase out inefficient lighting.

Multi billion dollar benefits of global switch to energy-efficient lighting Cancun, 1 December 2010 - The 100 Country Lighting Assessment findings have come from the en.lighten initiative- a partnership led by UNEP/GEF involving companies Osram and Philips.

UNEP en.lighten Intiative Establishes Expert Taskforces Paris,France, 20 October 2010 - Initial en.lighten Taskforce meetings were held throughout September 2010 to determine the scope and direction of each .

UNEP en.lighten Initiative Announced at Conference on International Phase-out of Inefficient LightingBeijing, China, 14 July 2010 -Mr. Bernard Jamet, Head of the UNEP-DTIE Technology Transfer Unit, introduced the en.lighten Initiative at the recent International Conference on Phase out of Inefficient Lighting: Policies, Strategies and Issues held from June 24-25, 2010 in Beijing, China.

The en.lighten initiative (global market transformation for efficient lighting) is announced by UN, GEF and Industry Washington DC/Nairobi, 25 September 2009 - A new global initiative to accelerate the uptake of low energy light bulbs and efficient lighting systems was launched today by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).