The second meeting of the G20 Energy Sustainability Working Group (ESWG) under Turkey’s G20 Presidency was held in İstanbul on 25-26 May 2015. Representatives of G20 members, invited countries and international organizations attended the meeting.
In the second ESWG meeting, the progress to date of the following five priority work areas of the ESWG was discussed:
- Access to energy for all with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa
- Energy efficiency
- Renewable energy
- Market transparency
- Inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
During the ESWG meeting, delegates exchanged views on concrete deliverables for 2015 under the G20 energy agenda, in the light of the discussion papers and reports circulated by the Presidency.
In this context, ESWG broadly supported the proposed G20 Energy Access Action Plan and exchanged views in order to further improve the Plan. Delegates also discussed the implementation of the G20 Energy Efficiency Action Plan and the ways and means of taking the ongoing work forward in the areas of market transparency and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The opportunities and challenges for renewable energy under the current market conditions and possible G20 work in this area was also discussed.
Participants also exchanged views on the agenda of the first G20 Energy Ministers Meeting which will be held on 2 October 2015 and the Conference on Access to Energy in Sub Saharan Africa to be held one day before the G20 Energy Ministerial.
The ESWG will continue its work in accordance with the agreed agenda at its next meeting which will take place on 1-2 September 2015 in İzmir.
