Phasing-out Inefficient Lighting to combat climate change
Baku, December 8 (AZERTAC). The South African government, host of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban (COP17), has formally announced a comprehensive phase-out policy for inefficient lighting.
The plan is linked to a global initiative by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aimed at assisting to combat climate change through the transition to energy efficient lighting.
South Africa`s announcement makes it the first African nation to undertake a comprehensive national phase-out transition from inefficient lighting.
The phase-out of inefficient lighting is one of the quickest, easiest and most effective ways to save energy and combat climate change. Electricity for lighting accounts for close to 20 per cent of total global electricity production and six per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. The en.lighten initiative aims to halve these emissions.
"If a global temperature rise is to be kept under 2 degrees C, we need to act on multiple fronts, including voluntary and legally binding actions. Fast tracking more energy-efficient lighting is without doubt one of the low hanging fruit offering not only emissions saving but cost savings to a company or a household`s budget," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.
"This UNEP/GEF Global Partnership is switching off old bulbs and switching on a path to a more low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy. The aim of achieving a global phase-out by 2016 is not only possible but infinitely do-able," he added.
The UNEP/GEF en.lighten initiative was launched in September 2009 as a globally coordinated effort to accelerate the transition to efficient lighting and mitigate climate change. It is a partnership between UNEP, GEF, and private sector partners Osram AG, Philips Lighting and the National Lighting Test Centre of China (NLTC).
UNEP has set an ambitious target date to phase-out inefficient incandescent lamps globally by 2016. This is the first step in the transition to more efficient lighting and a low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy. The phase-out of inefficient lighting is one of the most important and easy short-term initiatives that countries can implement to combat climate change and conserve financial resources in a time of global crisis. Over 130 countries still market inefficient incandescent lamps.
South Africa will become the first African country to phase-out incandescent lamps following an integrated approach, including the development of collection and recycling systems. Beginning in January 2012, the country fully supports the 2016 global deadline for the phase-out of inefficient lamps and will complete the phase-out by 2016.
Over 25 developing countries from four continents have joined the Global Efficient Lighting Partnership Program which has been established to support countries to design and implement national inefficient lighting phase-out strategies adapted to specific country conditions and requirements.
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