The SDGs as yardsticks for public investment in the energy & transport sectors

Governments around the world negotiate trillion-dollar recovery packages to respond to the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. The decisions they make determines if the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals remain within reach. The current social and economic crisis might be our last chance to initiate the deep transitions needed to put humanity on a path that is climate compatible.

Developing countries stand to win or lose the most from embarking on the right or wrong pathway, though receive only limited attention in the global debate on post-pandemic recovery.With this online discussion series, the LEDS Global Partnership, its Energy Working Group and its regional platforms aspire to change that. Organized by Berlin think tank SD Strategies, leading international experts will discuss how developing countries can advance post-pandemic reform in the energy and transport sectors to the benefit their citizens both in the immediate crisis as well as in the long term.

Rather than just presenting final packages or proposals, the three sessions of this series will study the rationales behind existing plans and the results of past recovery efforts such as after the 2008 financial crisis.

The objective is to explore the indicators that can be applied when designing effective post-pandemic stimuli and better international cooperation in the months ahead.

Overview of the Series

Session 1: Understanding Challenges and opportunies – SDG-proofing the energy and transport components of stimulus packages in developing countries

Date & Time: 25th June, 2020, 14:00- 15:30 CEST

Co-hosted by the Africa LEDS Partnership

Speakers:

• Michael Renner, Programme Officer, Policy Department , International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
• Claudia Kemfert, Head of the Energy, Transportation, Environment Department, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Berlin
• Julian Popov, Member of the Advisory Board, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Budapest
• Palesa Shipalana, Head of Economic Diplomacy Programme, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Johannesburg.

Moderator:

Alexander Ochs, Chair of the LEDS Energy Working Group & Managing Director, SD Strategies, Berlin

For more information on Session 1: Understanding Challenges and opportunies – SDG-proofing the energy and transport components of stimulus packages in developing countries, click here.

Session 2: Understanding the ideas behind stimulus proposals – Designing sustainable post-pandemic recovery programs in developing countries

Date & Time: 2nd of July, 2020, 11:00- 12:30 CEST

Co-hosted by the Asia LEDS Partnership and the LEDS Transport Working Group.

Speakers:

• Rajat Kathuria, Director, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi
• Michael Schäfer, Senior Advisor, Agora Energiewende, Berlin
• Maruxa Cardama , Secretary General, Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLOCAT), London
• Martin Kaspar, Policy Officer Climate Finance, European Commission, Brussels

Moderator:

Alexander Ochs, Chair of the LEDS Energy Working Group & Managing Director, SD Strategies, Berlin

For more information on Session 2: Understanding the ideas behind stimulus proposals – Designing sustainable post-pandemic recovery programs in developing countries, click here.

Session 3: Technical and financial needs of developping countries- Supporting a sustainable recovery in the Global South

Date & Time: 9th of July, 2020, 15:00- 16:30 CEST

Co-hosted by the LEDS Latin America and Caribbean Platform . 

Speakers:

• Dr. Martin Schuldes, Head of Unit – Climate Initiatives, Federal German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Berlin
• Alexandra Soezer, Climate Change Technical Advisor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York
• Pablo Vieira, Global Director, NDC Partnership Support Unit, Washington DC
• Gabriel Prudencio, Chief of the Sustainable Energy Division, Chilean Energy Ministry, Santiago de Chile

Moderator:

Alexander Ochs, Chair of the LEDS Energy Working Group & Managing Director, SD Strategies, Berlin

Commentary:

Eduardo José Sánchez,  Coordinator, LEDS LAC, Bogotá

For more information on Session 3: Technical and financial needs of developping countries- Supporting a sustainable recovery in the Global South, click here.