SDG7 Localisation E-Learning Module Audience and Training Assessment Survey Report UCLG ASPAC

Report of Results

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at The Local Level in Asia and the Pacific Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 7 September 2021

SDG 7 and The Cities: Capacity Building at The Local Level in Asia and The Pacific Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 7

The United Cities and Local Governments AsiaPacific (UCLG ASPAC) is the largest regional section of UCLG and serves as a key knowledge management hub on local government issues in the region. UCLG ASPAC promotes the policies and experiences of local governments in key areas such as poverty, sustainable development, and social inclusion. It engages in policy advocacy, capacity building and training, institutional development, and information and best practices sharing and replication. © United Cities and Local Governments AsiaPacific 2021 September 2021 Jakarta, Indonesia.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UN ESCAP and UCLG ASPAC. The use of information from this publication concerning proprietary products for publicity or advertising is not permitted. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holders, provided the source is fully acknowledged.

Reproduction of material in this publication for sale or other commercial purposes, including publicity and advertising, is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holders.

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UCLG ASPAC Copyright © United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific 2021 All rights reserved Printed in Jakarta

The yellow colored areas of the map indicate ESCAP Members and associate members.*

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission promotes cooperation among its 53 member States and 9 associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.

The UN ESCAP secretariat supports inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in the region by generating action-oriented knowledge, and by providing technical assistance and capacitybuilding services in support of national development objectives, regional agreements and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Preface

Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi UCLG ASPAC Secretary General The COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 has brought us to a crossroad, whereby the path we choose will have significant influence on shaping our future and our survival. We have embarked on a Decade of Action, which calls for accelerating sustainable solutions to all the world’s biggest challenges targeted by the 2030 Agenda. As highlighted by the UN Secretary General António Guterres, this Decade of Action focuses our attention to the achievement of the SDGs in 3 areas: global action, local action, and people action.

This makes the work by cities and local governments to advance their sustainable development not only timely, but crucial.

Focusing on SDG 7, on affordable and sustainable energy, it is clear to all how important the work carried out by cities and local governments are. From increasing access to reliable modern energy especially for the marginalised communities, to transitioning to circular economy and waste-to-energy, to increasing the renewable energy generation that makes cities prosumers instead of just consumers, cities are taking actions!

Congratulations to these progressive and future forward cities and regions!

The year 2020 was an important milestone for climate change policy. As many greenhouse gas targets expired for many countries, new targets

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were set, with many committing to carbon neutrality. In the Asia and the Pacific region, Japan, China and South Korea stood out as leaders with their net zero commitments. At the local level, we have seen the rapid momentum in incorporating and promoting sustainable energy. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, by end of 2020, more than 10,500 cities globally had adopted targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, with around 800 cities committed to net zero emissions.

This trend reflects the level of interest by cities and local governments in responding to our SDG 7 Localisation Training Needs Analysis and Audience Assessment, with many cities and local governments already in the thick of SDG 7 action in their own localities. Moving forward, we need to listen to cities and local governments and enable them to do what needs to be done to move the needle on local sustainable energy transition.

Affordable and sustainable energy has long been identified and recognised as a multiplier SDG that underpins and enable many of the needed development for a city or a community or a nation to prosper sustainably. It is worth noting again and again that changes do not happen in a vacuum and improved SDG 7 outcomes have impacts on the performance of other SDGs. UCLG ASPAC, as Asia Pacific’s biggest collective of local governments that links the voices and aspirations of more than 10,000 of the region’s cities and local governments, is supportive and looks forward to contribute towards this mission for the region. We believe aspirations and actions at the local level will give life to the aspirations and actions at the national level in energy transition, and push forward towards the global agenda. Let’s work together for affordable and sustainable energy for today and tomorrow.

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

SDG 7 and the Cities

How cities see Sustainable Energy and what they need to enable and empower them to do more to achieve SDG 7

Challenges to localisation of SDG 7 at the city-level

Cities* agreed that SDG 7 is a priority.

Less than 6% said that SDG 7 is not a priority.

When asked regarding the technical skill sets needed by their cities to support their localisation efforts, the respondents were quite uniform in their answers, with all four options selected by 34 to 27 respondents each, pointing to the possibility that the need for technical skills is almost equal across and throughout the steps of localising SDGs.

Challenges to localisation of SDG 7 at the city-level Preparation of sustainable energy transition roadmap at the local level Identification, planning, collection, monitoring of energy data Stakeholder engagement with internal and external parties

SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy is ranked 8th amongst SDGs most prioritised by participating Cities

support needed by the cities:

other support needed by the cities:

1. Sharing of experience by other Cities 2. Top leadership training in advocacy 3. Database of good practices or case studies 4. Assistance in securing funding and financial assistance 5. Material for public awareness building

1. Text material with some graphics 2. Online database of Good practices 3. Pre-recorded video lectures 4. Self-paced presentation slides 5. Live Group Discussions

*this represent Cities, Local Governments, Local Government Associations, and relevant NGOs and Research Institution working with cities that took part in the "Asia and the Pacific Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey" as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 7 project.

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Photo Source: gerald-escamos-54rcdojYC9A-unsplash, 2019.

Acknowledgements SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific was prepared by United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), in collaboration with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Under the direction of Dr Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, this publication was prepared

by Maizura Ismail, Strategic and Capacity Development Manager of UCLG ASPAC, and supported by an intern, Aliyya Galuh Laksmiandari.

This publication has benefitted from the inputs of regional and local governments, as well as local government associations, non-governmental organisations and research institutes from 11 countries in Asia and the Pacific, namely: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Nepal, Cambodia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Maldives, South Korea, and Kiribati, through their responses to the survey on Training Needs Analysis for SDG 7 Localisation by Cities and Local Governments in Asia Pacific.

This publication also received technical input and review support from Dr Ksenia Petrichenko, Economic Affairs Officer, and Dr Vitaly Bekker, Consultant, from ESCAP, as well as Hendra Susila Adi (Training Coordinator, Localise SDGs), Ramona Lissa Villegas (Institutional Governance Coordinator) and Dr Nancy Cromar (Intern, Climate Resilience and Inclusive City/ SDG 7 Localisation e-Learning) from UCLG ASPAC. Publication design and layout were prepared by Angga Safik Ul Ridwan, Knowledge Management Officer, UCLG ASPAC. The regional training needs and audience survey was carried out as part of the ESCAP E-Learning Program on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 7 project.

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Table of Content Preface Acknowledgementa Table of Content, List Tabl, List Figure Abbreviations and Acronyms

List of Figures 4 6 7 7

Introduction The Background and Structure of The Survey The Survey Respondents Cities’ Priorities of SDGs, with Focus on SDG7 The Cities’ Capabilities in Localising SDG7 The Cities’ Interest in SDG7 Training Conclusion and Recommendations

8 11 13 14 16 22 28

Appendix A. Questionnaire Appendix B. List of respondent organisations References

32 36 37

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Figure 7.

Abbreviations and Acronyms AIT AMF ASEAN CDP ESCAP HLPF LEADS for SDGs LGs LGAs LGUs LOCALISE SDGs

MDGs NGOs NTB SDGs TFEC UCLG ASPAC UN USD VNRs

: ASEAN Institute of Technology : ASEAN Mayors Forum : The Association of Southeast Asian Nations : Committee for Development Policy : The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific : High-Level Political Forum : Local Empowerment, Advocacy and Development for SDGs Localisation : Local Governments : Local Government Associations : Local Government Units : Leadership, Ownership, and Capacities for Agenda 2030 Local Implementation and Stakeholders Empowerment : Millennium Development Goals : Non-Governmental Organisations : Nusa Tenggara Barat : Sustainable Development Goals : Total Final Energy Consumption : United Cities and Local Government Asia Pacific : United Nations : U.S. Dollar : Voluntary National Reviews

Figure 8.

Figure 9.

Figure 10.

Figure 11.

Figure 12.

Figure 13.

Figure 14.

Figure 15.

Figure 16.

Figure 17.

Figure 18.

Figure 19.

Latest data on primary indicators of global progress toward SDG 7 target (Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2020) Division of respondents based on the type of their organisations Locations of Respondents’ Jurisdiction Ranking and scoring of SDGs based on the respondents’ organisations’ priorities Number of respondents who regard targets and localisation activities of SDG 7 as a priority Respondents’ area of focus under SDG 7 localisation Reasons of respondents’ who are unsure if targets and localisation activities of SDG 7 are a priority for their city/local government/local government association Key barriers faced by respondents in their SDG 7 localization efforts Technical skill sets most needed by respondents in their SDG 7 localization efforts Other support needed by respondents in their SDG 7 localization efforts Perception of organisations’ policy, technical, project management and stakeholder engagement expertise/ competencies in SDG 7 localisation External training needs for localising SDG 7 Interest in externally provided remote online learning course on SDG 7 localisation.

Potential participants for the remote online learning course on SDG 7 localisation Estimation of the number of possible participants for the remote online learning programme Department most suitable for the remote online learning course on SDG 7 localisation Ranking of the recommended types of learning and assessment materials Consideration to including remote online learning course developed by UCLG ASPAC and UN partners as part of internal staff skill development and key performance indicator SDGs scores from 100 VNRs by goal (HLPF, 2019)

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13 13 14 15 16 17

19 19 20 21

22 22 23 25 25 26 27

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Photo Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2020

INTRODUCTION The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognised that access to affordable and sustainable energy is a crucial pathway to achieving many of the overall targets of the Global Agenda under the three core dimensions of human development, sustainable economic growth and environmental sustainability. Previously, reliable and affordable energy was also determined as a fundamental prerequisite for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)i.

Similarly, affordable and clean energy has been deemed as central to the achievement of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 is expected to open a new world of opportunities for billions of people through new economic growth and jobs, empowered women, children and youth, better education and health, more sustainable, equitable and inclusive communities, and greater

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protections from, and resilience to, climate changeii. Represented under the Sustainable Development Goal 7, the affordable and sustainable energy target covers: universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services for electricity and cooking; substantial increase in shares of renewable energy in the global energy mix; improvement in global energy efficiency; and international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development and renewable energy production.

As the world struggles with the challenges and fallouts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the most vulnerable of the population is expected to bear the brunt of reversal triggered by the events surrounding the health crisis and resulting shadow pandemics. According to the analysis of the World Energy Outlook 2020iii, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed the steady progress made on SDG 7 in recent years, with the bulk of the downturn taking place in subSaharan Africa. The reversal is mainly caused

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

by lack of available financial resources as governments, private sector and households had to shift their priorities and redirect funds to the immediate health crisis and emergency measures, as well as the rise in poverty levels worldwide.

In tracking the SDG 7 progress across targets, a joint report by the custodian agencies of the energy sector stressed the linkages between achievements of SDG 7 and other SDGs focusing on health, education, gender equality and empowerment, sustainable cities, climate action, work and economic growth, and moreiv.

Action and acceleration on SDG 7 are key to ensure upholding of 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind. According to the report and the Policy Briefs in Support of the HighLevel Political Forum 2020 on Accelerating SDG 7 Achievement in the Time of COVID-19v: 1. 789 million people are currently living without electricity in 2018, down from 1.2 billion in 2010.

• In Asia and the Pacific, around 3.4% of population or 157 million people still did not have access to electricity in 2019, up from 87.3 % or 217 million people from 20101.

Recent years have seen rapid growth in access to electricity after an accelerated deployment of affordable electrification options, including on- and off-grid solutions. However, annual increases of at least 0.87 percentage points would be required to meet the target of universal access, which means an estimated 620 million people will remain without access in 2030 at the current rate of expansion, with about 85% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Asia and the Pacific, around 3.4% of population or 157 million people still did not have access to electricity in 2019. Existing and planned energy policies is set to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, with the urban populations approaching universal access at 99.7% in 2018 and rural population at 92.2%.

2. 2.8 billion people are living without access to clean cooking solutions in 2018, down from 3 billion in 2010.

• In Asia Pacific, 34.5% of the population or around 1.5 billion people are living without access to clean cooking solution in 2019, down from 49.8% or 2.2 billion people in 2010.

The global population without access to clean cooking solutions remained largely unchanged during the period of 2010-2018. The rate of increase in access to clean cooking has even decelerated since 2012, falling behind population growth in some countries.

Around 82% of the global population without access to clean cooking fuel and technologies between 2014 and 2018 live in 20 countries – 19 of which are among the world’s leastdeveloped countries, and most of them are in Africa.

In Asia and the Pacific, improvement in access to clean cooking has had slow progress, with around 1.5 billion people, or nearly 34.5% of the population relying on polluting and unhealthy cooking fuels and technologies in 2019. Universal access to clean cooking in the region is not expected to be achieved by 2030 at current rate, with cultural and preferences barriers as part of the challenges. Looking through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic, provision of clean cooking takes an increased importance as poor air quality carries the potential for increasing the risk for mortality from the virus.

3. Renewable energy represents 17.3% of total final energy consumption (TFEC), up from 16.3% in 2010.

• In Asia and the Pacific, renewable energy represents 15.1% of TFEC in 2018, up from 16.1% in 2010. Modern renewable energy represents 8.5% of TFEC, up from 5.9% in 2010.

The share of renewable energy in the global energy mix continued to increase in 2017 (+

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

0.1 percentage points), although at a slower pace than the year before (+ 0.2 percentage points), reaching 17.3% of total final energy consumption in 2017, up from 17.2% in 2016 and 16.3% in 2010. The key drivers behind the increase are solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind. Renewables’ share in the heating and transportation sectors lags far behind its potential. In Asia and the Pacific, the share of modern renewables overtook traditional biomass in the energy mix for the first time in 2017, reaching more than 8% and accounting for 52% of renewable energy in the region’s TFEC, with Hydropower accounted for threequarters of the region’s renewable electricity output. In 2018, modern renewable energy represents 8.5% of TFEC for the region.

4. Global primary energy intensity reached 5.0 megajoules per USD dollar in 2017, equivalent to a 1.7% rate of improvement from 2016.

• In Asia and the Pacific, the primary energy intensity reached 5.3 megajoules per USD dollar in 2017, down from 6.5 megajoules per USD in 2010.

SDG target 7.3 is to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, over the trend observed between 1990 and 2010, which was 1.3%. Preliminary estimates for 2018 (1.3%) and 2019 (2%) suggest that the improvement rate would reach approximately 2.1% between 2010-2019 which is lower than the required 2.6% annual target rate for the years between 2010 and 2030. Asia and the Pacific registered an annual average decline in energy intensity of 2.6% from 2010 to 2017, putting the region on track to meet the global annual reduction of SDG 7.3 target.

SDG target 7.A.1 focuses on international public financial flows to developing countries to promote access to technology and investments in clean and renewable energy. While the increase in financial flows is promising, only 12% reached the leastdeveloped countries in 2017, which are the furthest from achieving the various SDG 7 targets.

Sub-national and local governments have been increasingly active in developing and implementing policies and programmes in delivering sustainable urban public services that can contribute towards promoting affordable and clean energy, including, but not limited to, the areas of green buildings, waste management, transportation, district cooling/ heating, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. Localising or grounding of SDG 7 at the local level is key for accelerating achievements of Agenda 2030 in the energy sector. In order to identify areas for action and improvement to accelerate and localise SDG 7, it is important to understand the local context and perspective, as well as planning and action and that have already been undertaken at the local level.

5. Total international public financial flows to developing countries for clean and renewable energy reached USD 21.4 billion in 2017, double the level of 2010.

Photo Source: karsten-wurth-0w-uTa0Xz7w-unsplash, 2016

Data for Asia and the Pacific is from the Asia-Pacific Energy Portal website (In Asia and the Pacific, around 3.4% of population or 157 million people still did not have access to electricity in 2019)

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Photo Source: getty images, 2020

THE BACKGROUND AND STRUCTURE OF THE SURVEY The regional survey on SDG 7 training needs and audience analysis was undertaken to support the implementation of the ‘E-Learning Programme on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 7’ funded by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The outcome of the survey was meant to feed into the development of the e-learning modules collaboratively developed by ESCAP, United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), to ensure that modules developed are responsive to the needs and mandate of local governments and local government associations in Asia and the Pacific region.

The survey opened from the 19 January 2021 and closed on 10 February 2021. Targeted to local governments and local government associations, it was distributed widely through emails and social media through the various local government network operationalised

by UCLG ASPAC, including the UCLG ASPAC membership, the ASEAN Mayors Forum, LOCALISE SDGs Project in Indonesia, LEAD for SDGs Programme in Pakistan, the Southeast Asia Global Covenant of Mayors, as well as the various local government association members of UCLG ASPAC. The survey was also distributed through the network of cities that are part of the ongoing research on SDG 7 localisation by ESCAP. The questionnaire (included in Appendix A) contained 19 questions, including on the respondent profile, priorities in SDG, specifically SDG 7; capabilities in localising SDG 7; and lastly, on interest in undertaking e-learning course on SDG 7.

Respondents may not be answering all 19 questions depending on their answers to certain questions. Therefore, the percentages given refer to the number of responses per question, not the total number of respondents.

The answers to questions one to four, which is presented in a table, is included in Appendix B. The outcome for the rest of the questionnaire is explained in the following pages.

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Latest data on primary indicators of global and regional progress toward SDG 7 targets, globally and in Asia and the Pacific, adapted from the report 'Tracking SDG7 progress across targets: indicators and data', ©IEA, IRENA, UNSD, World Bank and WHO

2010

1.2 billion

3

billion

Latest Year

2010

(2018)

789 million

(2019)

people without access to electricity

(2018)

2.8 billion

people without access to clean cooking

(2017)

16.3 17.3 percent

5.9 MJ/USD

percent

MJ/USD

545 157 million

2.2 billion

million

(2019)

1.6 billion

(2018)

share of total final energy consumption from renewables

(2017)

5.0

Latest Year

primary energy intensity

16.8 16.9 percent

6.5

percent

(2018)

5.2

MJ/USD

MJ/USD

N/A

N/A

(2017)

10.1 21.4

USD billion

USD billion

international financial flow to developing countries in support of clean energy

Figure 1: Latest data on primary indicators of global progress toward SDG 7 target (Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2020)

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS

Types of Organisations

In total, we received 73 responses from cities, local governments and local government associations, as well as local non-governmental organisations and research institutes. After incomplete surveys, duplicated and irrelevant responses were taken out, the final number of valid responses to the survey amounted to 53.

As intended, the bulk of respondents (81.1%) come from sub-national governments at city or provincial levels, followed by responses from Local Government Associations (15.1%). We also received two responses from research and training institutes (3.8%) and one response from a Non-Governmental Organisations (1.9%). The responses were accepted as they work closely with sub-national governments and their inputs would be relevant to subject. Majority of the responses were from China (19), followed by Indonesia (10), the Philippines (8), Malaysia (7), Nepal (2), Cambodia (2), and one submission each from New Zealand, Pakistan, Maldives, South Korea, and Kiribati. The locations of the cities and local governments that have participated in the survey is presented in the map below.

1.89%

3.77%

13.21%

81.13%

Sub-National Governments Local Government Associations Non-Governmentak Organisations Research and Training Institutes Figure 2: Division of respondents based on the type of their organisations.

U

Respondent’s Country Boundary

0

500

1000 m

Location of Respondent

Figure 3: Locations of Respondents' Jurisdiction

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

CITIES’ PRIORITIES OF SDGs, WITH FOCUS ON SDG 7

Overall, the respondents of the survey prioritise ‘SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing’ the most, with a score of 12.23. This is followed by ‘SDG 4: Quality Education’ and ‘SDG 1: No Poverty’. The three least prioritised SDG by the respondents are ‘SDG 15: Life on Land’ with a score of 2.85, ‘SDG 14: Life Below Water’ with a score of 2.87, and ‘SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, which is the main focus of this survey, scored 9.89, and was ranked 8th, right square in the middle of the 17 goals.

Question 5 Please rank the SDGs based on the priorities of your city/local government/ local government association. Rank only SDGs that are considered a priority and select N/A for those not considered a priority. If your city/local government/ local government association has not prioritised any SDGs, please choose N/A for all SDGs.

Question 6 Are targets and localisation activities under ‘SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy’ a priority for your city/local government/ local government association?

• Yes • No • Not sure

The graph below shows a score for each SDG. If an SDG is ranked first, it will be given a score of 17. As the rank lowers, the score decreases until rank 17 with a score of 1. A score of 0 will be given to an SDG that is marked as N/A. The final score is the average of the score from the ranks over the number of answers for each SDG.

Rank of the SDGs based on the priorities of the respondent Cities/Local Governments/Local Government Associations 14

12.23 11.38

12

11.08

10.85 10.70

10.25

10

9.91

9.89

9.11

9.06 8.00

8

6.66

6.31

6

4.45

3.81

4

2.87

2.85

2 0

SD

3

G

SD

4

G

SD

1

G

SD

6

G

SD

8

G

SD

11

G

SD

2

G

SD

7

G

SD

5

G

SD

9

G

SD

13

G

SD

10

G

SD

12

G

SD

17

G

SD

16

G

SD

14

G

SD

Figure 4: Ranking and scoring of SDGs based on the respondents' organisations’ priorities.

14

15

G

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Respondents who answered ‘Yes’ were directed to a follow up question 7 and then - to question 9. Those who answered ‘Not sure’ were directed to a follow up question 8 and then - to question 9. Respondents who answered ‘No’ were directed to question 9.

Priority status of targets and localisation activities under SDG 7 45

41

Number of respondents

Although the SDG 7 was ranked 8th in previous question, out of 53 respondents, 41 (77.4%) stated that targets and localisation activities under SDG 7 are a priority for their organisations. Three respondents (5.7%) answered ‘No’, and 9 (17%) answered ‘Not Sure’.

9

3 0

Yes

No

Not Sure

Figure 5: Number of respondents who regard targets and localisation activities of SDG 7 as a priority

Photo Source: Dany Rahmana - Flickr, 2019

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

collecting, monitoring and reporting data on energy efficiency, access and renewable energy (25 out of 41, 61%). The area with least city participation is increasing access to energy, while other areas of work submitted by the respondents include city commitment in global collective action on energy such as 2030 Net Zero Carbon and C40 initiatives on Energy.

Question 7 If yes, which areas below are you currently working on in your city/local government/ local government association? Select as many.

• Internal awareness building on SDG 7 • Integration of SDG 7 policy into internal local development policy • Localisation of SDG 7 in increasing energy efficiency • Localisation of SDG 7 in increasing access to energy • Localisation of SDG 7 in increasing share of renewable energy • Data collection, monitoring and reporting on energy efficiency, access and renewable energy • Green or sustainable procurement • Other (please specify)

Question 8 If you answered ‘Not Sure’, why?

• I was not informed • Discussion is underway for prioritisation of SDGs • Other (please specify)

According to the responses, most cities participating in the survey who answered ‘Yes’ to the previous question are undertaking integration of SDG 7 into internal local development policy (28 out of 41, 68.3%), increasing share of renewable energy in the energy mix (27 out of 41, 65.9%), as well as

Nine respondents answered that they were not sure if their cities prioritised targets and localisation activities under SDG 7. Out of the nine, four did so because they were not informed of their cities’ priorities and three stated that the discussion on prioritisation is currently underway. Two respondents selected the ‘Other’ option, stating that their city has not put focus on energy development because it does not have the natural resources, and that there are no internal programmes to support SDG in this development period (2019-2024).

Areas of focus under SDG 7 localisation 30

28

27

25

25

21

21

21

20 15

9

10 5 0

2 SDG 7 integration into internal local policies

Increasing share of renewable energy

Data collection, monitoring and reporting

Internal awareness building

Increasing energy efficiency

Green or sustainable procurement

Increasing access to energy

Other

Figure 6: Respondents' area of focus under SDG 7 localisation.

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Reasons for respondents unsure if SDG 7 are being prioritised by their cities/local governments and associations 5

Number of respondents

4

0

3

2

I was not informed

Discussion is underway for prioritisation of SDGs

Other (please specify)

Figure 7: Reasons of respondents’ who are unsure if targets and localisation activities of SDG 7 are a priority for their city/local government/ local government association.

Photo Source: riccardo-annandale-7e2pe9wjL9Munsplash, 2016

Question 9 In your opinion, what are the key barriers faced by your city in localising SDG 7?

Select as many.

• Lack of interest in the SDG framework • Energy sector is not the mandate of our city/local government/local government association • Decision making on energy mix is done at the national level and local government has limited influence on the decision • Lack of understanding and awareness on SDG 7 and SDG 7 localisation amongst local government policy makers and professionals • Lack of technical capabilities amongst local government policy makers and professionals in hardware and software • Lack of technical capabilities amongst local government policy makers and professionals in data gathering, analysis and monitoring • SDG 7 is not prioritised as other SDGs are considered as requiring more urgent focus • Gaps in regulatory and legal framework support at national and sub-national level • Lack of financial resources • Other (please specify) When asked for their opinion on the barriers their cities face in localising SDG 7, the top three options selected by respondents are: lack of financial resources (26 out of 53, 49.1%), lack of technical capabilities in data gathering, analysis and monitoring (25 out of 53, 47.2%), and lack of understanding and awareness on SDG 7 and SDG 7 localisation amongst local government policy-makers and professionals (22 out of 53, 41.5%). The least frequently selected option, lack of interest in the SDG framework, was only selected by 10 out of 53

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SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

respondents. Under “Others,” one respondent submitted lack of citizen awareness and participation as a key barrier, while another respondent stated that their city faced no barriers in localising SDG 7.

THE CITIES’ CAPABILITIES IN LOCALISING SDG 7 Question 10 In your opinion, which technical skill sets are most needed by your city/local government/local government association officials and professionals in your efforts to localise SDG 7? Select as many.

• Preparation of sustainable energy transition roadmap at the local level • Identification, planning, collection, monitoring of energy data • Analysis of energy data • Stakeholder engagement with internal and external parties • Other (please specify) When asked regarding the technical skill sets needed by their cities to support their localisation efforts, the respondents were quite uniform in their answers, with all four options selected by 34 to 27 respondents each, pointing to the possibility that the need for technical skills is almost equal across and throughout the steps of localising SDGs. One respondent submitted in the ‘Other’ option that their city does not have any unmet needs in terms of technical skill set to localise SDG 7.

Photo Source: john-cameron-F_EooJ3-uTs-unsplash, 2020

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Key barriers faced by cities in localising SDG 7

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Energy SDG 7 not Lack of sector is not prioritised by interest in the mandate city/local the SDG of city/local government, framework government compared to other SDGs

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Figure 8: Key barriers faced by respondents in their SDG 7 localizations efforts.

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Figure 9: Technical skill sets most needed by respondents in their SDG 7 localizations efforts

19

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Other support needed in localising SDG 7 45

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Other

Figure 10: Other support needed by respondents in their SDG 7 localizations efforts.

Question 11 Aside from the technical skill sets, what kind of support is/are needed by your city/local government/local government association in localising SDG 7? Select as many.

• Sharing of experience by other cities and local governments in localising SDG 7 • Easily accessible database of how SDG 7 is localised by other cities and local governments • Assistance in securing funding and financial assistance for SDG 7 localisation • Support for development of materials and activities in internal awareness building • Support for development of materials and activities in external/public awareness building • Training for top leadership in advocating for more agency and influence for local governments in SDG 7 localisation at national and international level • Other (please specify)

20

When asked regarding other support needed by the cities to enable them to localise SDG 7 aside from the technical skill sets, the option most frequently selected by respondents are: peer learning through sharing of experience by other cities and local governments in localising SDG 7 (40 out of 53, 75.5%), training for cities’ top leadership in advocating for more agency and influence for local governments at national and international level (34 out of 53, 64.2%), and access to database of case studies by other cities and local governments in localising SDG 7 (32 out of 53, 60.4%). One respondent stated that they do not need any support.

Question 12 In your opinion, what is the level of your city’s: • Policy expertise/competency in localising SDG 7?

• Technical expertise/competency in localising SDG 7?

• Project/programme management expertise/competency in localising SDG 7?

• Stakeholder engagement/management expertise/competency in localising SDG 7?

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Respondents were asked for their assessment of their organisations’ levels of expertise or competency – very poor, poor, fair, satisfactory, excellent, and ‘N/A’ for irrelevant fields – in the areas of policy, technical, project/ programme management and stakeholder engagement/management while localising SDG 7. When numerical values were assigned to their responses, we found that, overall, the respondents rated their SDG 7 localising policy expertise/competency the highest, followed by project/programme management and stakeholder engagement. Technical expertise in localising SDG 7 was rated lowest.

Overall, across the expertise/competencies, respondents assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency in localising SDG 7 as somewhere between fair (assigned value of 3 out of 5) and satisfactory (assigned value of 4 out of 5), with the average assigned value of 3.2.

assessed their organisations’ expertise/ competency as satisfactory, 18 respondents or 34% assessed theirs as fair, 6 respondents or 11.3% assessed their as poor and one respondent or 1.9% assessed theirs as very poor. Four respondents or 7.6% assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency as excellent. Two respondents or 3.8% deemed this category as not applicable for their organisations.

For policy on SDG 7 localisation, same number of respondents assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency as fair (20 out of 53, 37.7%) and satisfactory (20 out of 53, 37.7%).

Eight respondents, or 15.1%, assessed that their organisations’ policy expertise/competency as poor, while four or 7.6% assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency in policy as excellent. One respondent (1.9%) selected not applicable for their organisation.

Respondents were least confident about their technical expertise/competency. More respondents assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency in this category as ‘very poor’ (2 respondents or 3.8%) and ‘poor’ (11 respondents or 20.8%) compared to the other three expertise/competencies.

20 respondents or 37.74% assessed their organisations’ technical expertise/competency as satisfactory, while 16 (30.2%) as fair, and three (5.7%) as excellent. One respondent or 1.9% chose N/A.

For stakeholder engagement/management, 21 out of 53 respondents or 39.6% assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency as satisfactory, 18 or 34% as fair, and 2 or 3.8% as excellent. Ten respondents or 18.9% assessed their organisations’ expertise/competency as poor, while two or 3.8% deemed this competency as not applicable for their organisations.

Number of respondents

For SDG 7 localisation project/programme management, 22 out of 53 or 41.5% respondents

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Figure 11: Perception of organisations' policy, technical, project management and stakeholder engagement expertise/competencies in SDG 7 localisation

21

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

THE CITIES’ INTEREST IN SDG 7 TRAINING This section looks at the audience interests and needs for externally provided training on SDG 7 localisation.

Question 13 In your opinion, is there a need for external training for your city/ local government/local government association officials and professionals in localising SDG 7?

Respondents were asked to select if they think their organisations would require externally provided training in localising SDG 7. The majority of respondents (47 out of 53, 88.7%) agreed that their organisations need support externally to train their officials and professionals in localising SDG 7, while the remaining 6 respondents (11.3%) were not sure.

None of the respondents selected ‘No’, which suggests that there is a general consensus on the needs for additional training on SDG 7 from external partners within the region.

External training needs for localising SDG 7 50

Question 14 Would your city/local government/local government association be interested in a remote training/e-learning course on SDG 7 provided by international partners focused on sustainable energy local action?

Respondents were asked if their organisations would be interested in receiving external remote online training on SDG 7 localisation from international partners. Possible answers for this question are ‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Not Sure’, whereby respondents, who answered ‘Yes’ or ‘Not sure’ were directed to the next question and for those, who answered ‘No’, the survey was finished.

Three respondents selected ‘No’, while the majority 38 respondents or 71.7% were interested in the e-learning course on SDG 7 localisation. 12 respondents or 22.6% were unsure.

Interest in remote online learning course on SDG7 localisation provided by international partners

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Figure 12: External training needs for localising SDG 7

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Figure 13: Interest in externally provided remote online learning course on SDG 7 localisation.

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

top leadership such as mayors or president or chair of the associations (20 respondents, 40%). Nine respondents (18%) also selected external contractors as possible participants.

One respondent who selected the ‘Other’ option noted that possible Local Government Units-stakeholders co-participating in the training, while another suggested training for local non-governmental organisations.

Question 15 If you answered ‘Yes’ or ‘Not Sure’, for whom would the remote training/elearning course in SDG 7 be?

• City/Local government/Local Government association top leadership/Mayoral level • City/Local government/Local Government management level • City/Local government/Local Government technical officers • External consultants/contractors • Other (please specify) 50 respondents were forwarded to answer this question after selecting ‘Yes’ or ‘Not Sure’ in the previous question. In this question, the respondents were asked to specify possible recipient or participants for the external remote online learning course.

Technical officers as possible recipients of training received the most answers, selected by 32 (64%) respondents, followed by management level (27 respondents, 54%), and

Photo Source: tran-mau-tri-tam-tZnbakTUcTIunsplash, 2016

Potential participants for the remote online learning course on SDG7 localisation 35

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Figure 14: Potential participants for the remote online learning course on SDG 7 localisation

23

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Question 16 In your estimation, how many participants of the remote training/e-learning programme would come from your city/ local government/local government association?

• 1-10 • 11-20 • 21-30 • 31-40 • 41-50 • More than 50 The respondents were asked to estimate the number of possible participants for the remote online learning on SDG9 localisation. From the 50 respondents, almost half (24 out of 50, 48%) estimated between 1-10 participants from their organisation, while the other half of respondents was divided between 1120 participants (11 out of 50, 22%) and 21-30 possible participants (10 out of 50, 20%).

Question 17 In your opinion, which department in your organisation would you consider most suitable for the remote training/e-learning course on SDG 7? Select as many.

• City management/Corporate planning department • City local plan and infrastructure department • Climate change and energy planning department • Socio-economic development planning department • Sustainable environment department • Finance department • Licensing and business development department • Communications and public relations department • Engineering department • Legal department • Other (please specify) The respondents were asked to give their opinion on the departments most suitable for the SDG 7 localisation remote online learning course. According to the respondents, participants will most likely be from the sustainable environment department (34 out of 50, 68%), city management/corporate planning department (33 out of 50, 66%), city local plan and infrastructure department (28 respondents, 56%), and the climate change and energy planning department (25 respondents, 50%).

Suggestion included in the ‘Other’ options include departments working on: programmes, research and development, smart city, labour, energy and mineral resources, health, education, and disaster management.

Photo Source: beci-harmony-jEmHVzBUTSIunsplash, 2021

24

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Estimation of the number of possible participants for the remote online learning programme 25

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Figure 15: Estimation of the number of possible participants for the remote online learning programme

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Figure 16: Department most suitable for the remote online learning course on SDG 7 localisation

25

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Question 18 Please rank the types of learning and assessment material most recommended for your city/local government/local government association officials and professionals? Please choose N/A for type of material that is not recommended.

To rank: 1. Move the type of material with the highest recommendation to the top.

2. Click N/A for materials that are not recommended.

• Text material, with some graphic • Self-paced presentation slides • Pre-recorded video lecture • Pre-recorded audio lecture • Online database of best practices • Interactive quiz • Live group discussion • Peer-to-peer mentorship in practical action for SDG 7 localisation • Blended learning - hybrid of face-toface and remote learning 2

This question requested the respondents to rank types of learning and assessment materials for training. The outcome shows that the most recommended learning material as preferred by the respondents is text with some graphics, with a score of 6.25, followed by online database of best practices, with a score of 5.5.

Pre-recorded video lecture was ranked third, scoring 5.28, while self-paced presentation slide, similar to that of the e-Learning modules currently being developed under the same projects, placed fourth, with a scoring of 5.09.

Pre-recorded audio, which was ranked second last by this question, will be used to support the effectiveness of the modules.

This question was originally Question 12 but moved to the end of the questionnaire after data has been collected for smooth reporting.

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Ranking of the types of learning and assessment material most recommended 7

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Figure 17: Ranking of the recommended types of learning and assessment materials

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Lastly, the respondents were asked to say if they would consider including the remote training/e-learning course developed by UCLG ASPAC and UN partners as part of their internal staff skill development and key performance indicator. Out of 50 respondents who answered the question, 31 respondents (62%) are positive they would, while 17 respondents (34%) were unsure. Two respondents were not interested.

Consideration of including remote online learning course developed by UCLG ASPAC and UN partners as part of internal staff skill development and key performance indicator

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Question 19 In the future, would your city/local government/local government association consider including the remote training/e-learning course developed by UCLG ASPAC and UN partners as part of your internal skill development and key performance indicator for your staff?

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Figure 18: Consideration to including remote online learning course developed by UCLG ASPAC and UN partners as part of internal staff skill development and key performance indicator

Photo Source: brands-people-Ax8IA8GAjVg-unsplash, 2021

27

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Overall, there is high interest in SDG 7 localisation at the local level in Asia and the Pacific. From the survey, we have seen that SDG 7 is ranked in the middle among other SDGs – 8th out of the 17 goals – in terms of prioritisation for local actions by cities, local governments and local government associations.

This is higher than the ranking of attention levels given to SDG 7 by a selected 100 national governments that submitted their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) during the first HLPF cycle (2016-2019). According to the note prepared by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) Subgroup on VNRs, 12 other SDGs were ranked as receiving higher attention by national governments than SDG 7 . The note was based on research using machine learning algorithm to measure the relative focus countries assigned to different SDGs by comparing the VNR texts with representative United Nations reports and publications on each of the 17 SDGs. Other SDGs receiving less attention in the VNRs than SDG 7 are SDG 2

on Zero Hunger, SDG9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 10 on reduced inequalities.

The results of the survey carried out by UCLG ASPAC and ESCAP also identified SDG 3 on Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 1 on No Poverty as the top three priorities for cities and local governments – all of which relies on increased access to clean and affordable energy in order for them to be achieved. Therefore, policies and actions planned and implemented to meet SDG 7 targets on energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy have the potential to also advance achievements in targets on human health, quality education, and poverty eradication, as well as across the entire Sustainable Development Agenda through the principle of “Leave no one behind”.

Many of the cities that responded to the survey are already undertaking efforts to localise SDG 7, including through integrating SDG 7 into internal local development policy (68.3%), increasing share of renewable energy

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Figure 19: SDGs scores from 100 VNRs by goal (HLPF, 2019)

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Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

in the energy mix (65.9%), as well as collecting, monitoring and reporting data on energy efficiency, access and renewable energy (61%).

Some cities have expressed their interest in global collective action on energy such as 2030 Net Zero Carbon and C40 initiatives on Energy.

However, cities have reported on some common challenges in SDG 7 localisation process, including lack of financial resources (49.1%), lack of technical capabilities in data gathering, analysis and monitoring (47.2%), and lack of understanding and awareness on SDG 7 and SDG 7 localisation amongst local government policy-makers and professionals (41.5%). Participating cities have identified gaps in capacity across the range of SDG 7 localisation activities, namely: preparation of sustainable energy transition roadmap at the local level; identification, planning, collection, monitoring of energy data; analysis of energy data; as well as stakeholder engagement with internal and external parties.

Having identified their challenges and areas of gaps, participating cities have also ranked their

Photo Source: kelly sikkema-unsplash, 2021

preferences for support needed to enable them to localise SDG 7 beyond the technical skill sets. The most selected support modalities are peer learning through sharing of experience by other cities and local governments in localising SDG 7 (75.5%), training for cities’ top leadership in advocating for more agency and influence for local governments at national and international level (64.2%), and access to database of case studies by other cities and local governments in localising SDG 7 (60.4%).

The survey also requested the respondents to rank the types of learning and assessment materials for training. When asked to select types of learning material preferred, the highest percentage of respondents selected text with some graphics, followed by online database of best practices, pre-recorded video lecture and self-paced presentation slide.

Majority of participating cities (88.7%) agreed that their local governments and local government associations – at mayoral, management and technical levels – need external support in training their officials and professionals in localising SDG 7. One participating city suggested inclusion of Local Government Association in the external training programmes.

The respondents were asked to select the departments in their organisation most suitable for the SDG 7 localisation remote online learning course. While most of the participating organisations selected sustainable environment department (68%), city management/ corporate planning department (66%), city local plan and infrastructure department (56%), and the climate change and energy planning department (50%), other departments including socio-economic development planning, finance, licensing and business development, communications and public relations, engineering and legal departments all received votes, suggesting understanding that issues relevant to energy planning, policy and consumption at the local level involve whole of organisations.

29

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Moving forward, this report recommends: • Sustaining SDG 7 capacity building – Continued focus on capacity building on localising clean and renewable energy at the local level, recognising the existing interest amongst the local governments and local government associations on the issues • Improved targeting of SDG 7 learning course design – Practical step-by-step guidance for local governments and local government associations, ranging from planning, implementation, to monitoring and evaluation of policies and actions towards achieving SDG 7, involving whole of organisation, taking into consideration the preferences and point of view at the local level • Facilitating peer-to-peer initiatives – Many local governments have preference to learn from each other through practical collaborations and documented proven case studies. It is recommended to establish interactive peer-to-peer learning Programmes, supported with easy access to database of case studies.

increased funding that can be sourced from and in collaboration with various actors including public and private, domestic and international stakeholders, bilateral and multilateral agencies, development banks, funds, communities, businesses, capital markets, institutional investors, asset managers and philanthropy foundations.

These should also include enabling local governments to improve risk-return profiles of investment through policies and instruments that reduce, transfer, or compensate for risks .

• Advancing the local narrative and advocacy – Capacitate local government, especially at the mayoral level, on how to advocate and advance local narratives on behalf of the local government to national and global levels, to ensure alignment of SDG 7 efforts at national and global level with the priorities and realities at the local level.

• Decision-making support tool for local governments – In advancing their commitment for SDG 7, respondent cities and local governments have noted both lack of capacity at the technical and policy levels. A decision-making support platform that takes into consideration of cityspecific existing conditions, opportunities, challenges and capacities (including technology, investment level, local technical capabilities, local communities, etc.) to offer options or recommendations of potential actions would enable them to take the steps required.

• Connecting local action to funding opportunities – Improving achievements in access to modern and renewable energy, as well as in energy efficiency, requires

30

Photo Source: iStockphoto Finest Works, UNESCAP, 2021

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Photo Source: Brodie Cass Talbott, UNESCAP, 2021

31

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Appendix A. Questionnaire Training Needs Analysis for SDG 7 Localisation by Cities and Local Governments in Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) in cooperation with ASEAN Mayors Forum and ESCAP is in the process of developing a set of modules on the localisation of ‘SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy’ for Cities and Local Governments in Asia Pacific. This survey aims to develop an understanding of the training needs of, as well as potential audience from, cities and local governments within the Asia Pacific region.

We are grateful for the open and honest response/feedback from the cities, local governments and local government associations.

If you have any question or if you need further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us: scd_manager@uclg-aspac.org; or amf@uclg-aspac.org.

Thank you.

1. Name of city/local government/local government association 2. Name of person responsible for this survey response 3. Position of person responsible for this survey response.

4. Email address of person responsible for this survey response 5. Please rank the SDGs based on your city/ local government/local government association’s priority. Rank only SDGs that are considered a priority and select N/A for those not considered a priority. If your city/local government/local government association has not prioritised any SDGs, please choose N/A for all SDGs. To rank: a. Move the SDG box with the highest priority to the top. b. Click N/A for SDGs that are not relevant/ prioritised.

• SDG 1: No Poverty • SDG 2: Zero Hunger • SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing • SDG 4: Quality Education • SDG 5: Gender Equality • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

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• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production • SDG 13: Climate Action • SDG 14: Life Below Water • SDG 15: Life on Land • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institution • SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals 6. Are targets and localisation activities under ‘SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy’ a priority for your city/local government/local government association?

• Yes • No • Not sure 7. If yes, which areas below are you currently working on in your city/local government/ local government association? Select as many.

• Internal awareness building on SDG 7

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

Photo Source: absolutvision-82TpEld0_e4-unsplash, 2017

• Integration of SDG 7 policy into internal local development policy • Localisation of SDG 7 in increasing share of renewable energy • Data collection, monitoring and reporting on energy efficiency, access and renewable energy • Localisation of SDG 7 in increasing energy efficiency • Localisation of SDG 7 in increasing access to energy • Green or sustainable procurement • Other (please specify 8. If you answered ‘Not Sure’, why?

• I was not informed • Discussion is underway for prioritisation of SDGs • Other (please specify) 9. In your opinion, what are the key barriers faced by your city in localising SDG 7?

Select as many.

• Lack of interest in the SDG framework • Energy sector is not the mandate of our city/local government/local government association • Decision making on energy mix is done at the national level and local government has limited influence on the

decision • Lack of understanding and awareness on SDG 7 and SDG 7 localisation amongst local government policy makers and professionals • Lack of technical capabilities amongst local government policy makers and professionals in hardware and software • Lack of technical capabilities amongst local government policy makers and professionals in data gathering, analysis and monitoring • SDG 7 is not prioritised as other SDGs are considered as requiring more urgent focus • Gaps in regulatory and legal framework support at national and sub-national level • Lack of financial resources • Other (please specify) 10. In your opinion, which technical skill sets are most needed by your city/local government/local government association officials and professionals in your efforts to localise SDG 7? Select as many.

• Preparation of sustainable energy transition roadmap at the local level • Identification, planning, collection, monitoring of energy data

33

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

• Analysis of energy data • Stakeholder engagement with internal and external parties • Other (please specify) 11. Aside from the technical skill sets, what kind of support is/are needed by your city/local government/local government association in localising SDG 7? Select as many.

• Sharing of experience by other cities and local governments in localising SDG 7 • Easily accessible database of how SDG 7 is localised by other cities and local governments • Assistance in securing funding and financial assistance for SDG 7 localisation • Support for development of materials and activities in internal awareness building • Support for development of materials and activities in external/public awareness building • Training for top leadership in advocating for more agency and influence for local governments in SDG 7 localisation at national and international level

• Other (please specify) 12. Please rank the types of learning and assessment material most recommended for your city/local government/local government association officials and professionals? Please choose N/A for type of material that is not recommended.

To rank: a. Move the type of material with the highest recommendation to the top. b. Click N/A for materials that are not recommended • ´ Text material, with some graphic • ´ Self-paced presentation slides • ´ Pre-recorded video lecture • ´ Pre-recorded audio lecture • ´ Online database of best practices • ´ Interactive quiz • ´ Live group discussion • ´ Peer-to-peer mentorship in practical action for SDG 7 localisation • ´ Blended learning - hybrid of faceto- face and remote learning 13. In your opinion, what is the level of your city’s:

Very Poor Poor Neutral Satisfactory Excellent

Policy expertise/competency in localising SDG 7?

Technical expertise/competency in localising SDG 7?

Project/programme management expertise/ competency in localising SDG 7?

Stakeholder engagement/management expertise/competency in localising SDG

34

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

14. In your opinion, is there a need for external training for your city/local government/ local government association officials and professionals in localising SDG 7?

• Yes • No • Not sure 15. Would your city/local government/local government association be interested in a remote training/e-learning course on SDG 7 provided by international partners focused on sustainable energy local action?

• Yes, we are interested in remote training/e-learning programme • No, we are not interested in remote training/e-learning programme • Not sure 16. If you answered ‘Yes’ or ‘Not Sure’, for whom would the remote training/e-learning course in SDG 7 be?

• City/Local government/Local government association top leadership/ mayoral level • City/Local government/Local government association management level • City/Local government/Local government association technical officers • External consultants/contractors • An equal mix of city/local government/ local government association officials, officers and contractors • Other (please specify)

18. In your opinion, which department in your organisation would you consider most suitable for the remote training/e-learning course on SDG 7? Select as many.

• City management/Corporate planning department • City local plan and infrastructure department • Climate change and energy planning department • Socio-economic development planning department • Sustainable environment department • Finance department • Licensing and business development department • Communications and public relations department • Engineering department • Legal department • Other (please specify) 19. In the future, would your city/local government/local government association consider including the remote training/elearning course developed by UCLG ASPAC and UN partners as part of your internal skill development and key performance indicator for your staff?

• Yes • No • Maybe

17. In your estimation, how many participants of the remote training/e-learning programme would come from your city/local government/local government association?

• 1-10 • 11-20 • 21-30 • 31-40 • 41-50

35

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific

Appendix B. List of respondent organisations Cambodia 1. Phnom Penh 2. Cambodian Civil Society Partnership China 3. Changchun Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries 4. China Center for Urban Development 5. Chongqing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries 6. City of Changsha 7. City of Dalian 8. City of Fuzhou 9. City of Guangzhou 10. City of Guiyang 11. City of Hai 12. Haikou Municipal Government 13. Hangzhou 14. Harbin 15. Jilin City 16. Nanning People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries 17. Shenzhen 18. Wuhan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries 19. Xia Men 20. Yiwu Municipal People’s Municipal Government 21. Zhengzhou India 22. Lalitpur Indonesia 23. Asosiasi Pemerintah Propinsi 24. Kota Bengkulu 25. Kota Gorontalo 26. Kota Palangka Raya 27. Mataram/Bappeda provinsi NTB 28. Ormoc City 29. Padang/Kota Padang 30. Kota Bandar Lampung 31. Province of Bali 32. Province of Maluku 33. Tual

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Kiribati 34. Kiribati Local Government Association Malaysia 35. Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council 36. Iskandar Malaysia 37. Kuala Lumpur City Hall 38. Penang Island City Hall 39. Putrajaya Corporation 40. Seberang Perai City Council 41. Subang Jaya City Council Maldives 42. Local Government Authority of the Maldives Nepal 43. National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal New Zealand 44. Local Government New Zealand Pakistan 45. Sindh Local Council Association Philippines 46. City of Baguio 47. Borongan City, Eastern Samar 48. City of Cauayan 49. City Government of Makati 50. Iriga City 51. Quezon City Local Government 52. Vigan City South Korea 53. Local Government Officials Development Institute

Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of SDG 7

REFERENCES Energy for the Poor: Underpinning the Millennium Development Goals https://www.iatp.org/sites/ default/files/Energy_for_the_Poor_Underpinning_the_Millenniu.htm i

2018 HLPF Review of SDG implementation: SDG 7- Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/ documents/195532018_background_notes_SDG_7Final1.pdf ii

iii

World Energy Outlook 2020 https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2020

Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2020 https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/data/files/ download-documents/tracking_sdg_7_2020-full_report_-_web_0.pdf iv

Policy Briefs in Support of the High-Level Political Forum 2020: Accelerating SDG 7 Achievement in the Time of COVID-19. https://www.UNESCAP.org/sites/default/d8files/knowledgeproducts/2020SDG7-POLICY-BRIEF-ASIA-PACIFIC.pdf v

Are some SDGs more important than others? Revealed country priorities from four years of VNRs. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/Note-SDGs-VNRs.pdf vi

Accelerating SDG 7 Achievement: Policy Brief 3 – Financing SDG 7. https:// sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/24090pb3_cover.pdf vii

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SDG Report of Results

SDG 7 and the Cities: Capacity Building at the Local Level in Asia and the Pacific Regional Training Needs and Audience Survey as part of the UNESCAP E-Learning Programme on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 7

UCLG ASPAC Jakarta’s City Hall Complex Building H, 21th Floor Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan No.8-9 Jakarta 10110, Indonesia Tel. (62-21) 389 01801, Fax. (62-21) 389 01802 www.uclg-aspac.org