Scaling Up Renewables in LLDCs

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) grapple with significant challenges as they lack territorial access to the sea. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change as well as the current energy crisis are exacerbating these vulnerabilities. In order to address the unique sets of challenges affecting LLDCs, the UN adopted in 2014 the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for the LLDCs for the Decade 2014-2024. Subsequently, the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (UN-OHRLLS), at the request of the Group of LLDCs, developed the Roadmap for the Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA, in consultation with other relevant UN system departments and agencies and other regional and international organizations who provided inputs. The Roadmap is a forward-thinking document for the implementation of multiple efforts of UN member states, UN system entities, and other international stakeholders.

Energy as catalyst and key enabler for the development of societies is rightly highlighted in the VPoA. It falls under priority area 2b: Infrastructure development and maintenance: Energy and information and communications technology infrastructure. VPoA’s objectives for energy is to expand and upgrade, as appropriate, infrastructure for supply, transmission and distribution of modern and renewable energy services in rural and urban areas.

The event served as a launch of the joint IRENA/UN-OHRLLS report “Scaling Up Renewables in LLDCs”. It set the scene for the discussion on potential pathways for LLDCs to achieve SDG7 and contribute to the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. It sought to: reflect on the findings of the report; showcase best case practices in scaling up renewables in LLDCs; and agree on strategic actions to close the energy access gap, accelerate transition to clean energy pathways, and boost socio-economic development. It also highlighted opportunities to enhance coordination among UN entities and other partners to scale-up international support to LLDCs and mobilize the required finance.

The report can be found here.

The detailed concept note can be found here.