Para maiores informações consulte a página  da ONU sobre desenvolvimento sustentável (United Nations, Sustainable Development).  http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/enr.htm

Energy related issues at the Commission on Sustainable Development, in collaboration with other concerned United Nations entities, come under the purview of the Energy and Transport Branch, Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Mr. Kui-Nang Mak is the Chief of the Energy and Transport Branch. 
 

       The ongoing impact of human development on the environment is a fact of life and the most significant impact is from energy production, distribution and use. At present, the nature and severity of interaction between the energy system and the environment is unprecedented.

       However, economic growth and social development depend on energy use and to meet the needs of a growing world population global energy consumption continues to increase substantially.

       The challenge, therefore, is how to meet the growing demand for energy while mitigating the impact of energy supply and use on the environment and thus guarantee the long term quality of our habitat.

       Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro) points to the fact that much of the world's energy is produced and used in ways that may not be sustained if overall quantities continue to increase substantially and if technology were to remain constant. In various chapters of Agenda 21, it was stated that all energy sources need to be used in ways that protect the atmosphere, human health and the environment as a whole. 

       With this heightened awareness underpinning the fact that choices must be proposed and made for energy futures compatible with sustainable development and thus a sustainable world, since the Earth Summit, sustainable development and use of energy have been highlighted and addressed, in its relevant context, in all major international forums, and particularly by the United Nations Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development. 

       The Nineteenth Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations recognized the need for a movement towards sustainable patterns of production, distribution and use of energy.

       In establishing the Multi-year Programme of Work for the Commission on Sustainable Development, the Special Session decided that the sectoral theme of the ninth session of the Commission will be Atmosphere/Energy and in this context, the Special Session underscored that in line with the objectives of Agenda 21, the ninth session of the Commission should contribute to a sustainable energy future for all.