On the occasion of the 8th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development ESCAP organized a round table discussion on the energy transition needed for sustainable development. A number of senior officials from various countries and international organizations have been invited to share their visions on the challenges and opportunities for bringing about the transition needed in the way energy is generated, transmitted and consumed in order to meet the sustainable development aspirations of countries.

The round table reviewed the current global energy scene and emerging trends. Factors that are driving major transformations in the energy sector were discussed, in particular: (a) energy security; (b) increasing energy demand, (c) gaps in energy access (d) environmental impacts on health and well-being, and (e) decarbonizing the energy sector in order to deliver on commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, more specifically SDG 7, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.