Side Event 2

SDG Pavillon

December 6th, 13:30-14:45

"Transformative potential of small-scale energy access investments: linking community action to SDGs and NDC implementation"

With the current state of affairs, it is unlikely that SDG 7 as a policy objective will be achievable until at least 2030. However, the coming 3 years will be crucial for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Off-grid solutions have the potential to create the necessary impact for achieving the goals but, at present, only 30 countries are actively considering these options (RLI 2019).

In this context, this COP25 side event aims to highlight local community action and small-scale energy solutions, which often remain unnoticed or not considered in the national ambitions. Appropriate and proven local solutions are laying the groundwork of new infrastructure at the community level, addressing energy service needs of rural, urban and remote communities and entrepreneurs, who cannot be served by the central grid in case of electricity or centralized distribution systems in case of cooking and heating fuels. There is a wealth of good practices and experience among local energy practitioners that might make a greater contribution to improving access to energy and enriching the NDCs.

The event will feature experts and energy practitioners exploring practical ways of anchoring national and global policies and commitments in the local context as well as opportunities to amplify local knowledge and innovation through larger policy frameworks. The event will be organized in the form of interactive panel with panel member:

• Carmen Dienst, Head of Research Unit “International Energy Transitions”, Wuppertal Institute, Germany
• Willington Ortiz, WISIONS Regional Coordinator, RedBioLAC (Latin America)
• John Kioli, Kenya Climate Change Working Group & ACCESS Coalition (Kenya) 
• Mara Gomez, Co-benefits expert, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Germany 
• Bahareh Seyedi, Global Energy and Climate Policy Adviser, UNDP
  

Moderator: Angelica Shamerina, Climate Change Program Adviser, SGP

Side Event 1
IDFC Pavilion, Blue Zone, Feria de Madrid
December 5th, 15:00-18:30

Expert dialogue on bioenergy and climate ambition in the framework of COP25.

Bioenergy has significant potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, due to barriers related to policy coherence, inter-institutional coordination, business models, financing and knowledge – among other factors –bioenergy development is lagging behind other renewable sources in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The need to raise ambition in future NDCs under the Paris Agreement creates the opportunity to explore new bioenergy policy goals, strategies and measures as an integral part of the LAC countries’ sustainable development policies and climate mitigation commitments. In the context of COP 25, CAF Latin America Development Bank is collaborating with LEDS LAC, LEDS GP EWG and other partners to bring together experts from government, private sector and international organisations in climate, energy, agriculture, forestry, solid waste and other relevant policy areas to participate in a dynamic and results-oriented dialogue event. The event aims to identify concrete lines of action and foster new partnerships to advance the contribution bioenergy can make to climate ambition and sustainable development.

Register here for this side event: Click here!

Find here an overview about all COP25 side events by the Wuppertal Institute

Find other interesting events at the IDFC Pavilion here!

This Mutual Learning Workshop for Biogas Consolidation in Costa Rica took place last July, where WISIONS Team member Willington Ortiz was present and co-organized the workshop. This workshop marked the first phase of a cooperative project that aims at developing and testing an intervention strategy to consolidate biodigestion technology as a real tool to improve agricultural production in Costa Rica.

In the workshop the participants identified five challenge areas for the successful development of biodigestion projects in Costa Rica:
1. Ensure the proper operation and maintenance of already installed biodigesters
2. Ensure quality in the provision of the technology and related services
3. Overcome hindering attitudes of farmers towards the changes implied to the adoption of biodigesters
4. Improve institutional frameworks
5. Dealing with challenging conditions of small farmers

During the workshop, the first two critical areas were prioritized and concrete options for dealing with them were co-designed. The results of the workshop provides valuable inputs for the further implementation of the collaborative project. They also provide a sound systematization of the challenges and potentials that biodigestion features today for the small and medium agricultural sector in Costa Rica.

The full report can be downloaded HERE!