ESCWA recently issued a publication entitled “Analysis of Energy Policy Trends in the Arab Region” (click here to access the publication and/or download it). This publication attempts to provide an analysis of the past national policy trends that shaped the evolution of the domestic energy situation in the Arab region, as well as the present policies and institutions that are in place. The analysis reveals that during the last three decades, national objectives associated with the domestic management of energy resources have not been in most Arab countries part of comprehensive national energy management strategies, including both the supply and demand sides.
In fact, the supply side was the main focus of domestic energy strategies in the Arab region, which led to a remarkable improvement in energy access across most countries in the region, but at the same time the development of unsustainable domestic energy patterns characterized by a serious deterioration of energy productivity and notable deficiencies in the development of the region’s significant renewable energy (RE) resources.
The publication also attempts to evaluate the ability of current and foreseen energy policy trends to reverse the prevailing energy situation and meet the present and future economic and social challenges, in the Arab region, with respect to sustainable development and energy security.
Moreover, some recommendations are made on how to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of good policy practices, including possible regional cooperation, to promote the development of new sustainable energy systems in the Arab region. It is recommended that the new energy systems be based on the development of comprehensive domestic energy management strategies that consider both the supply and demand sides. These strategies should particularly target the largely untapped potential of energy resources that can be released through energy efficiency programmes and measures, hence reversing the frantic energy consumption trends, currently prevailing in the region. An effective planning for the deployment of the region’s important renewable energy (RE) potential should also be part of the new energy strategies.
