From September 16 to 20, 2024, the UNECE Sustainable Energy Week 2024 took place in Geneva, Switzerland, gathering leading experts, government representatives, NGOs, and businesses to address pressing issues of energy security and resilience. This event provided a platform for exchanging experiences, developing recommendations, and presenting policies to accelerate a fair energy transition across the UNECE region.

Key events of the week included sessions of expert groups:

• The 20th session of the Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems,
• The 11th session of the Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency,
• The 11th session of the Group of Experts on Renewable Energy.

A notable highlight was the election on September 16, 2024, of Kostiantyn Hura, Head of the Supervisory Board of the NGO “Ukraine2Power,” as Vice-Chair of the UNECE Bureau of Experts on Renewable Energy. In his opening remarks, Hura emphasized the critical importance of energy security, especially amid the ongoing war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. He expressed his strong belief that renewable energy could be the key to addressing these challenges.

Additionally, Serhiy Porovskyy, an expert in energy efficiency financing and policy at the UNIDO/GEF UKR IEE Project, representative of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, and Vice-Chair of the UNECE Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency, participated as a panellist in the sessions “Supporting Energy Efficiency Improvement and Decarbonization in Industry” and “Integrating Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Distributed Energy Systems.” Mr. Porovskyy emphasized the importance of systemic approaches to energy efficiency, which enhance energy resilience, reduce costs, and cut emissions.

Natalia Fibryh, co-founder of the NGO “Ukraine2Power,” participated in a panel discussion on the electrification of mobility. She addressed the challenges posed by the systematic destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, highlighted the NGO’s work, and discussed the growth of the electric vehicle market in Ukraine.

Tamara Burenko, a Board Member of the Center for Energy Security of Ukraine and Deputy Director of the Strategic Development Department, Head of the Low-Carbon Development Department at the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, shared a photo on her social media page, noting that proposals were submitted to the activity plans of the expert groups. Ukraine’s position was highlighted regarding the destruction of its energy system by russian missile attacks. This contribution underscored Ukraine’s challenges and its ongoing resilience in the face of these assaults on critical infrastructure.

The UNECE Sustainable Energy Week 2024 once again showcased strong international commitment to energy resilience and a fair energy transition, bringing together experts worldwide to share insights and outline next steps for building resilient energy systems.