Energy for all stressed for SDG implementation

The poor people in rural areas, particularly in geo-physically hard to reach areas, do not have access to basic and affordable energy for lighting, cooking and livelihood activities, said speakers at a sharing workshop on Energy for All jointly organised by Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and Christian Aid, in the capital yesterday, says a press release. 

Lack of access to sustainable, clean and affordable energy hinders the economic development and livelihoods of the millions, particularly in the rural areas and urban slums, the speakers remarked in the workshop. 
The speakers said “The Goal-7 of the SDGs aims at increasing access to affordable, reliable and sustainable-clean energy for all. To achieve this global goal at country and community level, Bangladesh has to invest on renewable and community based energy system as well as to develop a sustainable energy system considering the needs and priorities of the poor, women and marginal communities”. 
BCAS with support from Christian Aid (CAid) has undertaken an initiative with CAid partners and actors to popularise and localise SDGs with particular focus on Clean Energy (SDG-7) for effective implementation in the country. 
As a part of this process, they organised a Civil Society Dialogue on SDG Challenges in Bangladesh in early 2016 and several regional consultations (in coastal zone, haor basin, barind upland and hilly area) and capacity building workshops in the last seven months with local government institutions, NGOs and local actors to seek the local perspectives, needs and priorities of SDGs and energy as well as raise the voice of the grassroots communities to influence the policies and practices. 
Christian Aid Acting Country Director Sanjib Biswas attended the programme as a special guest. Director of BCAS Khandaker Mainuddin chaired the inaugural session.
Three keynote papers were presented at the function today. Executive Director of BCAS Dr Atiq Rahman presented one of the papers. 
Research Fellow of BCAS Omar Tarek Chowdhury shared people’s perspectives, needs and priorities of SDG-7, stressing the need for clean energy for all. Senior Research Officer of BCAS Khalilullah shared the current energy condition in four ecosystems of the country. 
Another research fellow of BCAS Golam Rabbani shared the updates of CoP 22 (UN Climate Change Conference) held at Marrakech this year with focus on access to clean energy and mitigation to climate change.  

Energy for all stressed for SDG implementation

The poor people in rural areas, particularly in geo-physically hard to reach areas, do not have access to basic and affordable energy for lighting, cooking and livelihood activities, said speakers at a sharing workshop on Energy for All jointly organised by Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and Christian Aid, in the capital yesterday, says a press release. Lack of access to sustainable, clean and affordable energy hinders the economic development and livelihoods of the millions, particularly in the rural areas and urban slums, the speakers remarked in the workshop. The speakers said The Goal-7 of the SDGs aims at increasing access to affordable, reliable and sustainable-clean energy for all. To achieve this global goal at country and community level, Bangladesh has to invest on renewable and community based energy system as well as to develop a sustainable energy system considering the needs and priorities of the poor, women and marginal communities. BCAS with support from Christian Aid (CAid) has undertaken an initiative with CAid partners and actors to popularise and localise SDGs with particular focus on Clean Energy (SDG-7) for effective implementation in the country. As a part of this process, they organised a Civil Society Dialogue on SDG Challenges in Bangladesh in early 2016 and several regional consultations (in coastal zone, haor basin, barind upland and hilly area) and capacity building workshops in the last seven months with local government institutions, NGOs and local actors to seek the local perspectives, needs and priorities of SDGs and energy as well as raise the voice of the grassroots communities to influence the policies and practices. Christian Aid Acting Country Director Sanjib Biswas attended the programme as a special guest. Director of BCAS Khandaker Mainuddin chaired the inaugural session. Three keynote papers were presentedat the function today. Executive Director of BCAS Dr Atiq Rahman presented one of the papers. Research Fellow of BCAS Omar Tarek Chowdhury shared peoples perspectives, needs and priorities of SDG-7, stressing the need for clean energy for all. Senior Research Officer of BCAS Khalilullah shared the current energy condition in four ecosystems of the country. Another research fellow of BCAS Golam Rabbani shared the updates of CoP 22 (UN Climate Change Conference) held at Marrakech this year with focus onaccess to clean energy and mitigation to climate change.