WBCSD Joins Industry Partnership to Address Energy Poverty

Contact: Kai Bucher, Communications Department, World Economic Forum, E-mail: kai.bucher@weforum.org,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 869 1377, Fax: +41 (0) 22 869 1394

Geneva, 31 January 2008 – The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum to join the Energy Poverty Action (EPA) network alliance during the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos. The alliance aims at pooling resources of its members to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy in areas with little or no access to energy. The World Energy Council (WEC) joined the EPA in November 2007.
The EPA is a private sector program initiated by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (Canada), Eskom (South Africa) and Vattenfall (Sweden). Launched at the World Economic Forum in 2005, its objective is to deliver business expertise and best practices to reduce energy poverty by developing innovative, scalable and replicable projects. A key concept is empowerment of local user groups to take charge of, and responsibility for, the management of local energy systems.
The WBCSD, the WEC and the Forum are fortunate to count many of the same companies among their membership working on energy poverty. It was therefore recognized that a partnership would go a long way towards developing a shared vision for issues related to energy poverty. "The tri-alliance between WBSCD, WEC and the Forum will provide the necessary impetus for EPA to scale up its efforts to reduce energy poverty," said Christoph Frei, Senior Director, Head of Energy Industries & PACI, World Economic Forum.
"Access to energy is crucial for economic development and social progress," said Björn Stigson, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. "Our member companies are committed to contributing towards a sustainable future for society at large. They are developing business solutions to increase access to sustainable energy services in the developing world."
"The World Energy Council's goals are defined as the three A's: Accessibility, Availability and Acceptability," said Gerald Doucet, Secretary-General, World Energy Council, London. "For us it is key to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people and EPA is a great vehicle to do so." EPA partners British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, Eskom and Vattenfall, are committed to developing two initial projects in Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective is the successful completion of the first projects and the replication of business-driven alliances with commitments to new projects by involving additional business partners.
In 2007, the Development Bank of Southern Africa commenced hosting of the EPA Management Unit (EPAMU) to promote this objective. EPAMU acts as a matchmaker between leading companies, governments, local entrepreneurs and communities, national and international finance institutions and donors to enable project financing and execution to address the challenges of energy poverty.

Note to Editors:
Further information on the Energy Poverty Action Project (EPA) can be found at:
· http://www.wbcsd.org
· http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/EnergyPovertyAction/index.htm

About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development. The Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations. Members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. The Council also benefits from a global network of about 55 national and regional business councils and regional partners.

For further information contact:
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Shona Grant, Director Development Focus Area
E-mail: grant@wbcsd.org
Tel.: +41 22 839 31 25

About the World Energy Council
The World Energy Council (WEC) is the foremost multi-energy organization in the world today. WEC has Member Committees in over 90 countries, including most of the largest energy producing and energy consuming countries.
Established in 1923, the organization covers all types of energy, including coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydro and renewable, and is UN-accredited, non-governmental, non-commercial and non-aligned. WEC is a UK-registered charity headquartered in London. WEC Services Limited was established in 2001 as the incorporated trading subsidiary of WEC.

Energy Poverty Action (EPA), an industry partnership project of the Forum

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. (www.weforum.org)