Friends of the Earth takes clean energy access debate to Parliament9 May 2012
The United Nation's Sustainable Energy initiative accepts community involvement is crucial in providing clean, affordable energy for all.
The UN's Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative hopes to deliver energy access for everyone on the planet - as well as doubling renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2030.
But they have not asked the very people who need energy, how this should be done.
The road to success
Friends of the Earth and the All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group brought SE4All members, industry and community voices together to discuss how to make the UN initiative a success.
Geoffrey Kamese from Friends of the Earth Uganda said that ignoring people who need energy is a recipe for failure.
Community-owned energy could play a major role in making sure everyone has access to clean, safe and affordable energy.
We're calling on governments, businesses and communities to work together to make this happen.
UN accepts the importance of community voices
Hearing about the lack of community involvement, the UN promised to do more to include voices on the ground in the energy initiative.
Helen Clark, ex-Prime Minister of New Zealand and UN representative, agreed that community involvement is vital.
But we need to make sure this happens as we get closer to this summer's UN sustainable development conference, Rio+20.
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