The Right Energy Partnership is a unique collaboration between indigenous peoples and other stakeholders to deliver energy access and support the development of appropriate, rights-based renewable energy, contributing to SDG 7 on Energy and global climate action. Leaders of indigenous peoples will present the challenges and good practices and initiatives of indigenous peoples on renewable energy. Likewise, development actors and representatives of stakeholders will also share their views on this initiative.

Please RSVP to: REP@indigenouspeoples-sdg.org on or before July 10,2018
This event has been generously supported with funding from the European Union.

Concept Note 

Background and context: 

The Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG) has undertaken a study and consultations on Indigenous Peoples and Renewable Energy in line with SDG 7 – clean and affordable energy for all, with the following key findings:

• An increasing number of big renewable energy projects (wind farms, large dams, geothermal plants) are resulting to serious violations of the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples—land dispossession, displacements, destruction of livelihoods, arrest and detention and extra-judicial killings in response to protests by indigenous leaders and communities.
• While indigenous peoples’ territories are hosting numerous “clean” and renewable energy projects, millions of indigenous peoples remain without access to energy.

As a response to this situation, and the call of 2030 Agenda for Development (SDGs) of “leaving no one behind” as well as on Developing Partnerships to achieve the SDGs (Goal 17 on Means of Implementation), the IPMG has initiated the establishment of the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP) with the following goals:

• Ensure that renewable energy projects are fully aligned with the respect and protection of human rights; and
• Provide at least 50 million indigenous peoples access to renewable energy by 2030 that is developed and managed in ways that are consistent with their self-determined needs and development aspirations.

This initiative is unique and adds significant value in comparison to numerous existing multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships for Goal 7:

1. It is anchored in the respect and protection of human rights;
2. It is an indigenous-led, multi-stakeholder platform in support to indigenous peoples’ self-determined development;
3. It is a bottom-up approach and inclusive ensuring the full participation of indigenous communities including women, persons with disabilities, youth and elderly; and
4. It upholds the principles and practice of transparency and accountability (more details in the attached concept note for the REP).

As the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2018 include Goal 7 as one of the focus Goals, the IPMG is thereby launching this initiative during the HLPF with the following objectives:

1. Generate awareness of and attention to this initiative by key development actors engage in the SDGs and related issues; and
2. Expand the Partnership with different development actors including States, local governments, non-government organizations, advocates, academia, human rights institutions, UN agencies, programmes and Funds, and the private sector, including investors.

Launch of the Right Energy Partnership

Details

Date and time: July 12 (Thursday), 4:30 to 7:30 PM

Venue:  The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection 
511 Lexington Avenue at 48th St | New York | NY | 10017
P (212) 418-6742| C (914) 920-1991

Funded by the European Commission

Interpretation will be available in Spanish and French

The event will be webcast

Target participants: 80 persons

Programme for the Launch

• Introduction of this initiative by the IPMG providing an overview of the REP
• Brief Presentations from Indigenous leaders on the challenges, lessons learned, good practices and initiatives of indigenous peoples relating to renewable energy (Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, Arctic, Pacific, Russia
• Remarks by representatives of potential partners ( TBC)
  • Representative of the European Commission
  • Representative of EU Parliament
  • Minister of Energy of the Government of Chile
  • UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Representative of the Investors Alliance for Human Rights
  • Representative of UNDP/UNEP/IFAD/ILO
  • Representative of Human Rights Institution (GHANRI/DIHR)
  • Representative of private sector
  • Representative of local governments
  • Representative of SDG-related partnerships and networks
  • Distinguished leaders on sustainable development 

• Open discussions
• Cultural presentation
• Expression of support from other partners
• Ways forward and concluding remarks by the IPMG

RECEPTION FOR NETWORKING AND EXCHANGES with cultural presentations: 6:00-7:30 PM

Light snacks and drinks will be served

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