Amboseli National Park, Kenya, 17-19 November, 2006

Co-sponsored by the e-Parliament and the World Future Council

Summary report

The e-Parliament's first international parliamentary hearing on climate and energy was held at the Ol Tukai Lodge in the Amboseli game reserve, immediately following the 2006 Conference of the Parties of the Climate Convention in Nairobi.  The question addressed by the hearing was: "How to face the climate challenge while ensuring that everyone has access to energy?"

A view of Kilimanjaro, with its melting icecap, from the Ol Tukai Lodge

Using the format of a parliamentary committee hearing, 19 national and regional legislators from 13 African and European countries heard presentations from leading experts on energy policy.  The hearing began by focusing on the dangers of climate change, including the potentially catastrophic consequences for Africa. 

e-Parliament chair, Anders Wijkman, addressing the e-Parliament hearing

The parliamentarians were then able to pose detailed questions to the experts regarding specific actions that they could promote in their national parliaments to accelerate the transition to a highly energy-efficient world economy powered by sustainable energy, in which even the poorest citizens have access to modern energy services.  In the final session, the various action ideas were assessed by the parliamentarians with a view to action in national parliaments.

This report includes the following sections:

• Dr. Kwame Ampofo MP, Ghana: Ranking Opposition member, Energy Committee
• Mr. Axel Berg MdB, Germany: Member, Industry and Technology Committee
• Mr. David Chaytor MP, United Kingdom: Chair of e-Parliament Energy Network
• Ms. Dorette Corbey MEP, Netherlands, Member, Environment Committee
• Ms. Akua Dansua MP, Ghana: Minority Spokesperson on Gender and Children
• Mr. Konimba Dembele MP, Mali: Chair of Energy Committee
• Ms. Avril Doyle MEP, Ireland: Member of Environment Committee, European Parliament
• Ms. Anne-Grete Holmsgaard MP: Denmark: Vice-Chair of Energy Committee
• Mr. John A. Kigyagi MP, Uganda: Vice-Chair of Energy Committee
• Mr. Augustine Lotodo MP, Kenya: Member of East African Legislative Assembly
• Mr. Moffat Maitha MP, Kenya: Member of the Kenyan Parliament
• Mr. Chris Molefe MP, South Africa: Member of Minerals and Energy Committee
• Mr. Mutinda Mutiso MP, Kenya: Member of the Kenyan Parliament
• Mr. George Nangale MP, Tanzania, EALA: Member, Trade and Investment Committee.
• Ms. Fatimata Niambali MP, Mali: Secretary of Mali Parliamentary Group on Energy
• Dr. Wale Okediran MP, Nigeria: Member of e-Parliament Council
• Dr. Ruth Rabinowitz MP, South Africa: Alternate Member, Minerals and Energy Committee
• Mr. Sammy Weya MP, Kenya: Member of the Kenyan Parliament
• Mr. Anders Wijkman MEP, Sweden: Chair of e-Parliament Council 

Experts:

• Mr. Stephen Karakezi: Director, Energy, Environment and Development Network for Africa/Foundation for Woodstove Dissemination
• Mr. Paul Kirai: National Project Manager, Global Environmental Facility-Kenyan  Association of Manufacturers Industrial Energy Efficiency Project
• Dr. Evans Kituyi: University of Nairobi
• Ms. Paivi Koljonen: Senior Energy Economist, Africa Region, World Bank
• Mr. Miguel Mendonca: Researcher, World Future Council
• Dr. Marianne Moscoso-Osterkorn: International Director, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
• Dr. Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah: Executive Secretary, Ghana Energy Commission
• Mr. Jakob Schmidt-Reindahl: GTZ Nairobi
• Dr. Ibrahim Togola: Director of the Mali Folkecenter
• Dr. Njeri Wamukonya: Energy Programme Officer, UN Environment   Programme
• Mr. Gregory Woodsworth: Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor, United Nations Development Programme

Secretariat:

• Mr. Nicholas Dunlop, Secretary-General, e-Parliament
• Ms. Sally Garden, Programme Officer, e-Parliament
• Mr. Jesper Grolin, Executive Director, e-Parliament

David Chaytor, MP (UK), welcoming the participants with John Kigyagi, MP (Uganda), on the left, and Anne Grete Holmsgaard, MP (Denmark), on the right.

Each expert gave a detailed presentation highlighting at least one or two steps which legislators could promote in their national parliaments.  Here are just some of the policy ideas which were discussed.  In the following section, you will find links to the experts’ PowerPoint slides providing more detailed information on some of these ideas.

 The importance of energy efficiency measures for both developed and developing countries was emphasised by several speakers.  Energy conservation -- in buildings, machinery, transport, etc -- is by far the cheapest source of "new" energy supplies.  In developing countries, the energy made available through efficiency measures can be used to help increase energy access.

One policy measure which generated great interest among the legislators was the new energy efficiency labelling system for electric appliances being pioneered by Ghana with support from REEEP.  Few African countries have any labelling systems for energy efficiency and citizens have no way of knowing, when purchasing an appliance, how the energy costs compare with those of similar machines.  Research has shown that some of the most energy-efficient appliances can also be among the cheapest to buy.  In Ghana, the labelling system is beginning with air-conditioners, which are major consumers of energy in hot climates, and the scheme will soon be extended to refrigerators and other appliances.  As can be seen below, the new label rates each machine using a star system, it includes the likely energy savings, and it estimates the money which consumers could save depending on the machine's efficiency.

Ghana’s efficiency label for room air-conditioners, which contains information on the manufacturer, the indicative annual energy consumption of the appliance, and an energy efficiency star rating.

In the course of the discussion, it became clear that legislators in other African countries might be able to replicate the energy label, perhaps in the long run spreading it across the continent.  The Kenyan MPs reported that a new Energy Bill would be before Parliament within a few days, and they believed that this idea could be introduced in the debate.  REEEP is very interested in helping to replicate the Ghanaian initiative in other countries, and may be able to contribute some funding for research or other associated work.

There was detailed discussion of the approaches taken in Germany and Mauritius, among other countries, to guarantee renewable energy producers a favourable and stable price for the electricity they feed into to the national grid.  German legislation has encouraged a rapid build-up of its wind and solar power industries by means of feed-in tariffs set at  levels that make these renewable sources of energy economically attractive. In the process, it has also created an estimated new 170,000 jobs.  Mauritius used a similar approach to encourage sugar processing factories to generate electricity from the sugar cane waste (bagasse) which they produce. The biomass generators in those sugar factories now contribute 20% of the nation's electricity supply.  Feed-in tariffs to encourage the development of renewable energy could easily be replicated by countries not yet using them.  The German law is already available in a number of languages (contact info@e-parl.net), and has already led to similar initiatives in some other countries.

All the legislators agreed that increasing public awareness of the threat of climate change as well as the many opportunities for shifting to sustainable energy, is a key component in generating the necessary political will.  Parliamentarians have many opportunities to help educate their own colleagues and the public at large.  It was suggested that the e-Parliament could produce a generic PowerPoint presentation, tailored for each region, which legislators could use in meetings.

There was also discussion of the need for greater information and consultation between donor agencies and national parliaments about energy programmes.  While intergovernmental development agencies normally deal with the executive branch, parliaments could invite them to provide regular briefings for legislators.

The bulk of the energy used by the poorest citizens is for cooking.  The demand for wood-fuel is contributing to deforestation and to lung disease caused by indoor smoke, which kills more than a million people every year.  The parliamentarians heard about the success which Kenya has had in producing a clay-line bucket stove which reduces charcoal consumption by 30-50%.  With some government support for basic infrastructure, and by easing up on taxes and licences for small-scale producers, Kenya has created a thriving industry which has already produced some 15 million efficient cookstoves.

Parliamentarians in session, from left to right: Sammy Weya (Kenya), Dr. Ruth Rabinowitz (South Africa), Dr. Wale Okediran (Nigeria), George Nangale (Tanzania), Mutinda Mutiso (Kenya), and Chris Molefe (South Africa).

Just as Kenya eased tax and administrative burdens on producers of stoves, so Nepal has done with small-scale hydro energy producers.  Any enterprise producing less than 1 MW needs no licence, can set its own tariff without government interference, and has a simplified tax payment system.  This has helped to give Nepal thousands of small-scale hydro operators, producing energy for productive uses such as grinding grain and lighting.  The same approach could be applied in other countries.

Energy access, clean energy and technical training need to receive far greater support from governments in both South and North.  Developing renewable energy industries can reduce the impact of volatile oil prices on the national economy, and can help communities which are far from the National Grid to gain access to energy from mini-hydro, wind, solar or biomass energy.  Where climate-friendly energy costs more than fossil fuels, donor countries should help to make up the difference through financial assistance.  This is already done to some extent through the Global Environment Facility and the Clean Development Mechanism, but far greater resources are needed for these and similar programmes.  Since parliamentarians approve national budgets, they have many opportunities to press for more resources.  Some of the participants in the hearing have already done so, generating substantial additional funds.  Southern parliamentarians should also urge their governments to give greater attention to energy access and clean energy in presenting their needs to donor agencies.

 Dr. Ruth Rabinowitz, MP (South Africa), talking to e-Parliament Chairman, Anders Wijkman, MEP (Sweden).

The need for greater government support for research and development of renewable energy technologies was also recognized, as was the need for less bureaucratic funding mechanisms, such as Kenya's constituency development funds.

Another Ghanaian initiative which could easily be replicated in other countries is a program under which a community within 20 km of the National Grid can install its own wiring, after which the government is committed to extending the grid and supply that community with electricity.

More than one participant stressed the importance of highlighting energy priorities in national investment plans and in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in developing countries, and of ensuring active parliamentary oversight of the implementation of those plans.  Several parliamentarians stressed the importance of coordinating energy policies more closely with other environment and development policies.

It was remarked that tropical forest nations in the 2006 climate negotiations had been urging greater financial support from donor nations to help ensure that the remaining forests are preserved.  Some of this support could be generated through carbon-trading schemes in the industrialised countries.  Forests and desertification account for more than 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions.  There is no need, however, to wait for the slow-moving climate negotiations to reach a conclusion on this.  Legislators from South and North could work together, with Northern colleagues pressing for more resources, and Southern colleagues ensuring that new funds will be spent with maximum effectiveness.

Coffee break discussion between (from left to right) Dr. Ibrahim Togola, Director, Mali Folkecenter, Dr. Kwame Ampofo, MP, (Ghana), and Konimba Dembele, MP, (Mali).

With regard to the role of the e-Parliament itself, and the other organisations represented in the hearing, the discussion highlighted the following key tasks:

When legislators are taking initiatives in their parliaments on ideas such as those listed here, they can benefit greatly from the advice by leading experts from around the world.  The e-Parliament should help to facilitate ongoing connections between parliamentarians and experts, just as it has done in this hearing.  The organisations presenting to the hearing, such as the World Bank, UNDP, UNEP, REEEP, the World Future Council, AFREPREN/FWD, the Mali Folkecenter, the GEF and the Ghana Energy Commission, are among those which can provide valuable ongoing advice.  It is even possible that the World Bank may be able to provide consultants to assist in drafting model legislation on some of the ideas discussed.  Parliamentarians could also make good use of sample parliamentary questions to ministers as well as facts and figures which can help to establish the financial case for promoting clean energy and access to energy for the poor.

Some of the parliamentarians present at the hearing, and others who participate in future e-Parliament hearings, will be working on similar issues in their own parliaments.  The e-Parliament should help to keep them in touch through an electronic newsletter, and occasional conference calls and/or meetings to allow them to learn from each other's experience as they move ahead.

A number of the parliamentarians were interested in exploring the establishment of e--Parliament regional headquarters in their cities, which could be funded by a combination of government, private sector and development agency resources.  These regional headquarters – for example in East Africa, Europe, Francophone Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, etc. – would help to gather examples of best practice in legislation and policy around the regions, and to organise an ongoing series of hearings such as the one held at Amboseli.  They would thus steadily help to build the capacity of parliaments to deal with energy and other critical issues.

David Chaytor MP, UK, Chair, e-Parliament Energy Network welcomed the assembled parliamentarians and experts to Amboseli, and thanked them for taking the time to participate in the hearing. Nicholas Dunlop, Secretary-General, e-Parliament gave a brief introduction to the e-Parliament’s work and history, and then turned to the importance of the climate change debate and the need for innovative policy ideas to address the issues of access and climate change.   

Nicholas Dunlop, e-Parliament Secretary-General, talking about the scope of the climate threat.

Anders Wijkman MEP, Chair, e-Parliament Council also welcomed the group, and further elaborated on the need for quick and powerful action in addressing the challenge of energy access and climate change. 

Anders and Nick responded to a number of questions and comments regarding the e-Parliament and the urgent need for radical policy action on the issue of energy.  

Miguel Mendonca, researcher at the World Future Council, made a brief presentation to the group, introducing the World Future Council, and outlining the development of the German Bundestag’s ‘Feed in Tariff’ legislation. He emphasized that the legislation had been effective in removing the risk of investment in renewables. The legislation is a ‘support scheme’ for renewables, obliging grid operators to purchase energy from renewable sources at a favourable and stable price. The scheme also applies to very small scale producers and provides a mechanism that have resulted in a rapid increase in investments. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

Dr. Axel Berg MP, Germany, elaborated on the German feed-in legislation, emphasizing the law’s two-pronged approach of focusing both on renewables and efficiency. He raised several points that he considered to be crucial for the success of the German legislation: the scheme is independent from the state budget as it is financed from a small levy on all energy consumers; subsidies decrease quickly to encourage rapid investment; and there is room for competition.

Parliamentarians in debate, from left to right: Anne Grete Holmsgaard (Denmark), Avril Doyle, MEP, (Ireland), Akua Dansua, MP, (Ghana), and Dorette Corbey, MEP, (the Netherlands).

Avril Doyle, MEP, Ireland, highlighted the fact that the small levy was a kind of “public service contribution”, and Kwame Ampofo, MP, Ghana, emphasized that competition for funds should be between similar  technologies – i.e. solar power should not be competing for investment against micro-hydro power in this type of legislation.

Dr. Marianne Moscoso-Osterkorn, International Director, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) began her presentation with a brief introduction to REEEP and its work, particularly its work with African parliaments. She emphasized ‘energy efficiency’ as the most important energy source for the future, and that efficiency must be an integral part of a country’s entire energy thinking. Dr. Osterkorn mentioned the need for strong institutional capacity within Ministries, the need to implement a legal framework that provides long term incentives for change, and that it was counter-productive for Energy Utilities to be responsible for efficiency policy since their interest is in increasing energy consumption. She highlighted the Ghanain air-conditioner labelling project as an example of an effective and replicable efficiency policy. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

During the question period Dr. Moscoso-Osterkorn went in to more detail about REEEP’s work, and the importance of energy efficiency being a core component of a country’s energy plan.

 Coffee break discussion between (from left to right) Dr. Wale Okediran, MP, (Nigeria), Sammy Weya, MP, (Kenya), Akua Dansua, MP, (Ghana), and Paul Kirai, National Project Manager, GEF-KAM, Kenya.

Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary, Ghana Energy Commission, followed up on Dr. Moscoso-Osterkorn’s presentation of the Ghanaian air-conditioner labelling programme. He emphasized the importance of avoiding too much technical information on the efficiency label, and instead focusing on the average number of kilowatt hours that a model consumes. Dr. Ahenkorah went on to outline Ghana’s energy access policies and he stressed that the underlying principle is that energy cost must be consistent across the country irrespective of distance from the grid. This ensures that consumers close the grid help the more distant users. A levy on all energy consumers help to fund new grid connections in Ghana through the National Electrification Programme, but this levy has not been adjusted over time and is now insufficient to cover costs. He also outlined Ghana’s Self Help Electrification Programme that requires contributions in terms of labour and equipment from communities that wish to connect to the grid. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

During questions, one point Dr. Ahenkorah emphasised was the need to keep the energy regulator independent and free from political control – partly in encourage international investment from investors who require transparency.

 Sammy Weya, MP, (Kenya), chairing a session with Nicholas Dunlop, e-Parliament Secretary-General, and Anne Grete Holmsgaard, MP, (Denmark) on the right.

Stephen Karekezi, Director, Energy, Environment and Development Network for Africa (AFREPREN/FWD) began by emphasizing the need to protect the productive informal sector. Mr. Karakezi summarized both the Kenyan experience with disseminating more efficient cookstoves (Kenyan Ceramic Jikos - KCJs), and the larger scale co-generation project involving sugar factories in Mauritius. He outlined how the production of KCJs is fully self-sustaining, relying on local labour and manufacture, and stressed the massive savings in terms of charcoal consumption as well as the reduction in health problems they provide. Mr. Karakezi also noted the importance of ‘micro-deregulation’ to increase the freedom of the informal sector. He also focused on the experience of cogeneration in the sugar industry in Mauritius, showing how generation of energy from agricultural waste can offer an alternative revenue stream and radically increase energy production. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

Dr. Ibrahim Togola, Director, Mali Folkecenter (MFC) highlighted the need to find sustainable energy solutions that do not rely on oil. He also emphasized the need to focus on energy for productive uses such as pumping, irrigating etc. in order for energy to generate added value and create new income. This is a logical process – when people have additional income, THEN they can purchase electricity. Dr. Togola outlined an access policy based on three foundations: learning from past experience; technical and economic stability; and local ownership of projects and programmes. (Click here for PowerPoint slides). 

Paul Kirai, National Project Manager, GEF-KAN Industrial Energy Efficiency Project, began by emphasizing the importance of efficiency as a new, affordable energy source for Africa, which cost only 1/3 of newly generated electricity, and he pointed out the need to address both distribution losses and end use losses in industrial efficiency. He highlighted the need for financial mechanisms, capacity building, and increasing awareness in order to address the problem of industrial efficiency in particular. Mr. Kirai concluded by listing several policy challenges related to efficiency: e.g. promoting efficiency at all levels; making ‘saved’ energy available to increase access; protecting the gains made through efficiency measures; and addressing the lack of standards and targets in this area of policy. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

 Panel of experts (from left to right) Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary, Ghana Energy Commission, Dr. Ibrahim Togola, Director, Mali Folkecenter, Paul Kirai, Project Manager, GEF-KAM Kenya, and Stephen Karakezi, Director, AFREPREN/FWD.

A number of important questions and comments were raised in the discussion with parliamentarians, including the importance of ensuring the independence of the energy regulator and the question of who should appoint the chief executive. The need to work with the informal sector was also raised, together with the need to create ownership of energy programmes among local communities.

Participants in session (from left to right) Dr. Axel Berg, MdB, (Germany), Dr. Kwame Ampofo, MP, (Ghana), Konimba Dembele, MP, (Mali), Dr. Ibrahim Togola, MFC Director, Mali, and Fatimata Niambali, MP, (Mali).

UN Environment Programme Perspective

Dr. Njeri Wamukonya, Energy Program Officer at UNEP’s Regional Office for Africa, outlined a project on ’eCommerce and Renewable Energy’ (e-Care), which seeks to eliminate energy barriers and expand access to telecommunication by using renewable energy. The project encourages small entrepreneurs to target urban and peri-urban customers. Dr. Wamukonya mentioned some limitations to the project, including the need for start-up or growth capital, business support services, and a supportive regulative policy framework. She went on to show how a franchise business structure makes the programme effective, and she said that there exists a franchise package as well as finance plan, including a substantial grant, as well as support from partner financial institutions. She finished by emphasizing the need for parliamentarians to encourage budgetary allocation across sectors. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

UN Development Programme Perspective

Gregory Woodsworth, Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor at the UNDP, emphasized that energy is central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and that there is a need to pay special attention to the provision of energy. He outlined the ‘East African Community (EAC) Energy Access Strategy’, stressing that energy access is not synonymous with connection to the national grid, and that one should rather focus on what ‘services’ are required to reduce poverty. The EAC programme has a number of targets, including access to modern energy services for all schools and clinics, and access to mechanical power for all communities for productive uses by 2015. The programme will be funded partly by donors and national budgets, and partly by ‘user willingness to pay’. Mr. Woodsworth ended by emphasizing that investment will only happen if we prioritize energy access and if parliamentarians use their ability to influence budget allocations and policy frameworks. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

World Bank Perspective

Paivi Koljonen, Senior Energy Economist in the World Bank for Africa Region, stressed that Governments themselves need to take leadership in developing country programmes for providing access to energy. She also highlighted the need for credible, self-financing commitments, and realistic scale-up plans. (Click here for PowerPoint slides).

Panel on International Assistance with Gregory Woodsworth, Energy Policy Advisor, UNDP, and Paivi Koljonen, Senior Energy Economist, World Bank.

During the question session Mr. Woodsworth emphasized the need for ‘low cost - high impact’ solutions to the energy access problem, stating that renewables don’t necessarily fit that bill yet in urban or peri-urban areas. He also stressed that people themselves must determine which services they require, and these are not always the same as the needs assumed by donors.

See section 2 above for a summary of the suggestion made during this discussion.

The e-Parliament is a new global forum in which democratic national legislators work together to exchange and implement good policy ideas.  It is led by an international Council of members of Parliament and Congress.  We are combining the new communications technologies with face-to-face meetings to apply at the global level some of the methods of a national Parliament.  For more inforomation on the e-Parliament please visit our website at www.e-parl.net.

The World Future Council (WFC) aims for a global membership of wise thinkers, practical pioneers and young leaders. It will identify the "implementation gaps" between current practices and necessary measures to assure a sustainable and equitable world. As an institution representing humanity's common values, the WFC will provide an ongoing forum for debate and action. For further information please see our website at www.worldfuturecouncil.org/.