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Sustainable Development

The manner in which we produce and consume energy is of crucial importance to sustainable development, as energy has deep relationships with each of its three dimensions – the economy, the environment and social welfare.

These relationships develop in a fast-moving and complex manner characterised by increasing globalisation, growing market liberalisation and new technologies, as well as by growing concerns about climate change and energy-supply security. In order to make energy an integral part of sustainable development, new policies need to be developed. Such policies must strike a balance among the three dimensions of sustainable development. The IEA helps Member governments to create the conditions in which the energy sectors of their economies can make the fullest possible contribution to sustainable development.

The IEA also contributes to (see attached document) and participates in international meetings on sustainable development (e.g. UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The outcome of the Workshop on Sustainable Use, Supply and Production of Biomass in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya: 9-11 October 2006), organised by the IEA together with the African Development Bank and UNEP, will serve as input to the UNCSD policy session in April/May 2007.