Global Tracking Framework Report identifies countries with most potential to make "high-impact" progress on sustainable energy and specifies policy measures to scale up action

VIENNA, May 28, 2013 - About 1.2 billion people - almost the population of

India - don't have access to electricity, 2.8 billion have to rely on wood
or other biomass to cook and heat their homes, renewable energy accounts for
18 percent of the global energy mix, and the largest energy savings and
greatest expansion of renewables happened in China.

These are just some of the findings of a unique new report by a multi-agency
team led by the World Bank and supported by the World Energy Council. The
report, compiled by experts from 15 agencies, is the first of a series to
monitor progress towards the three objectives of the Sustainable Energy for
All initiative, launched in 2011 by United Nations Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon. The initiative, whose advisory board is co-chaired by World Bank
Group President Jim Yong Kim, is mobilizing a global coalition of
governments, private sector and civil society to achieve, by 2030, its three
objectives of universal access, doubled renewables and doubled energy
efficiency improvement.

The report puts numbers to those three objectives and identifies what needs
to change where and how to do it.

"Demand continues to outpace supply of electricity: That electricity needs
to be affordable, and generated more and more in a sustainable way, and used
more efficiently," said World Bank Vice President Rachel Kyte, in launching
the report. "To rise to this challenge - to meet peoples' basic needs and to
do so sustainably clearly requires a scale of effort we have never seen
before."

About 80 percent of those without access to modern energy live in rural
areas. Although 1.7 billion people gained access to electricity between 1990
and 2010, this is only slightly ahead of population growth of 1.6 billion
over the same period. The pace of expansion will have to double to meet the
100 percent access target by 2030. To bring electricity to that one billion
plus people using conventional energy sources would increase global carbon
dioxide emissions by less than one percent.

The reports finds only "modest" progress since 1990 on expanding access to
electricity and clean household fuels, increasing the share of renewable
energy and improving energy efficiency.

Dr Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, said: "The
report shows that there has been progress but it is also clear that much
more will need to be done if we are to meet the UN Secretary General's
ambitious goals. The global energy system is undergoing arguably the biggest
transformation in modern history and bold policy measures will be required
to enable the energy sector to deliver on this challenge. The World Energy
Council is committed to play our part in achieving these goals and guiding
the policy changes needed, through our leadership network and our events
such as the World Energy Congress, with our Energy Tilemma policy work and
our leadership in the Global Electricity Initiative."

Twenty countries in Asia and Africa account for about two-thirds of those
without access to electricity and three-quarters of those who use solid
fuels-wood, charcoal, animal and crop waste, and coal-to cook or heat their
homes.

The study calculates that renewable energy accounted for 18 percent of the
global energy mix in 2010, and that the improvement rate of energy
efficiency, described by a compound annual growth rate of energy intensity
(CAGR), was -1.3 percent between 1990 and 2010.

Twenty so-called "high-impact" countries identified in the report as
accounting for 80 percent of energy consumption will need to lead the way on
doubling the share of renewables to 36 percent of the global energy mix and
doubling energy efficiency.

Decisive action is needed to achieve these goals, the report concludes,
including more than doubled energy investments, as well as "a comprehensive
package of policy measures, including fiscal, financial and economic
incentives, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and pricing of carbon."

Dr Frei added: "Access to secure, clean, and affordable energy is
fundamental to improving the lives of people across the world. The goals of
Sustainable Energy for All are important and we must seize this opportunity
to make a better future."

The report shows that China has recorded the largest energy savings and
greatest expansion in renewable energy globally. India has electrified an
annual average of 24 million people and provided 20 million a year with
access to modern cooking and heating fuels since 1990.

"In the report, we refer to high-impact countries that offer the most
potential to make rapid progress towards the goals," said Vivien Foster,
Energy Sector Manager at the World Bank, who led the report team. "This
report suggests that they can draw lessons from the experience of what we
call fast-moving countries. Interestingly, China and India fall in both
categories."

It also calls on countries, international organizations, private sector
investors and civil society to increase energy investments focused on the
three objectives by at least $600 billion a year until 2030, more than
doubling the current estimated $409 billion. The additional $600 billion
would include $45 billion for electricity expansion, $4.4 billion on modern
cooking, $394 billion in energy efficiency, and $174 billion on renewable
energy.