Sustainable Energy and Human Development in ECIS

Aleksandra Novikova, PhD, the Research Associate of the IKEM, has been one of the authors of the UNDP report on Sustainable Energy and Human Development in the ECIS region. The ECIS region includes Turkey and the countries of the Western Balkans and the Former Soviet Union, except for the Baltic States.
The past two decades have produced many changes in how these countries use energy. Some of these export large quantities of fossil fuels and boast some of the world’s highest rates of energy intensity. Others struggle to provide reliable and affordable energy to their own citizens. Many of these countries have a legacy of energy intensity and energy inefficiency. Energy losses due to old infrastructure and dilapidated networks are significant. Numerous market barriers, often combined with subsidised energy prices, pose a challenge for promoting renewable and efficient energy technologies. Lack of access to basic energy services and frequent disruption of power supply are of particular concern in Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
This publication provides an overview of key challenges and developments related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access in the ECIS region. The analysis presented focuses on analysing trends and exploring opportunities related to the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable energy.