BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a849433a9532 DTSTART:20230315T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20230315T133000Z LOCATION:\, SUMMARY:World Consumers Rights Day: Upholding consumers’ right to water a nd energy CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:On the celebration of the World Consumers Rights Day on 15 Marc h 2023\, UNCTAD wishes to draw attention to consumers’ right to essentia l services\, namely energy and water. Considering the Agenda 2030 Sustaina ble Development Goal (SDGs)\, we have less than 7 years to achieve univers al and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all (Goa l 6)\, and to ensure universal access to affordable\, reliable and modern energy services (Goal 7).\n\nThe COVID-19 pandemic led to extreme price vo latility of the energy market followed by demand outpacing supply\, and th e war in Ukraine further disrupted the global energy market leading to ris ing energy prices seriously impacting the most vulnerable\, as highlighted by the recent United Nations report on Global impact of war in Ukraine: E nergy crisis (2022).\n\nIn addition\, climate change and environmental deg radation\, constitute major global challenges\, as identified by UNCTAD’ s Bridgetown Covenant (2021)\, and require enhanced energy efficiency and promoting a sustainable energy transition\, UNCTAD’s recent publication on Access by Consumers to Essential Services: Energy\, Water and Sanitati on\, shows that we are woefully off track. So what should be done?\n\nThe United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection recognize access by cons umers to essential goods and services and the protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers as two of consumers legitimate needs.\n\nThe Guid elines also recommend that Member States promote universal access to publi c utilities and formulate\, maintain or strengthen national policies to im prove rules and statutes dealing with provision of service\, consumer info rmation\, security deposits and advance payment for service\, late payment fees\, termination and restoration of service\, establishment of payment plans and dispute resolution between consumers and utility service provide rs\, taking into account the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged consume rs.\n\nGovernment intervention is necessary to meet consumer needs in publ ic utilities\, and its extent is an implicit global recognition of their i mportance.\n\nPurpose of this event\n\nUNCTAD’s celebration of World Con sumers Rights Day 2023 will provide a global overview of consumers’ situ ation in relation to these essential services\, discuss emerging trends an d considerations relating to consumers’ inclusive and affordable access to energy and water in the context of the current cascading crisis and ide ntify policy options for policymakers to speed up the attainment of the SD Gs.\n\nKey objectives:\n\n\nPresent a global overview of the current situa tion of consumers’ access to energy and water.\nExchange experiences on concrete improvements needed to enhance and improve access by consumers to these essential services.\nDiscuss the experiences of member States\, int ernational organizations and experts and their vision on the most promisin g opportunities to improve access and quality of service.\nSupport develop ing countries in updating their policy frameworks in a strategic way in th e light of sustainability\, including demand and supply side efficiencies and fiscal options for demand reduction.\n\n\nThe event will be held in En glish only.\n<\;p>\;On the celebration of the World Consumers Rights D ay on 15 March 2023\, UNCTAD wishes to draw attention to consumers’ righ t to essential services\, namely energy and water. Considering the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)\, we have less than 7 years to ac hieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all (Goal 6)\, and to ensure universal access to affordable\, reliabl e and modern energy services (Goal 7).<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The COVID -19 pandemic led to extreme price volatility of the energy market followed by demand outpacing supply\, and the war in Ukraine further disrupted the global energy market leading to rising energy prices seriously impacting the most vulnerable\, as highlighted by the recent United Nations report o n Global impact of war in Ukraine: Energy crisis (2022).<\;/p>\;\n\n&l t\;p>\;In addition\, climate change and environmental degradation\, cons titute major global challenges\, as identified by UNCTAD’s Bridgetown Co venant (2021)\, and require enhanced energy efficiency and promoting a sus tainable energy transition\,&\;nbsp\;UNCTAD’s recent publication on A ccess by Consumers to Essential Services: Energy\, Water and Sanitation\, shows that we are woefully off track. So what should be done?<\;/p>\;\ n\n<\;p>\;The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection recogn ize access by consumers to essential goods and services and the protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers as two of consumers legitimate needs.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The Guidelines also recommend that Member States promote universal access to public utilities and formulate\, maint ain or strengthen national policies to improve rules and statutes dealing with provision of service\, consumer information\, security deposits and a dvance payment for service\, late payment fees\, termination and restorati on of service\, establishment of payment plans and dispute resolution betw een consumers and utility service providers\, taking into account the need s of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Gov ernment intervention is necessary to meet consumer needs in public utiliti es\, and its extent is an implicit global recognition of their importance. <\;/p>\;\n\n<\;h4>\;Purpose of this event<\;/h4>\;\n\n<\;p&g t\;UNCTAD’s celebration of World Consumers Rights Day 2023 will provide a global overview of consumers’ situation in relation to these essential services\, discuss emerging trends and considerations relating to consume rs’ inclusive and affordable access to energy and water in the context o f the current cascading crisis and identify policy options for policymaker s to speed up the attainment of the SDGs.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;h4>\;Key o bjectives:<\;/h4>\;\n\n<\;ul>\;\n<\;li>\;Present a global over view of the current situation of consumers’ access to energy and water.& lt\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;Exchange experiences on concrete improvements ne eded to enhance and improve access by consumers to these essential service s.<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;Discuss the experiences of member States\, in ternational organizations and experts and their vision on the most promisi ng opportunities to improve access and quality of service.<\;/li>\;\n& lt\;li>\;Support developing countries in updating their policy framework s in a strategic way in the light of sustainability\, including demand and supply side efficiencies and fiscal options for demand reduction.<\;/li >\;\n<\;/ul>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The event will be held in English only. <\;/p>\;\n\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/w orld-consumers-rights-day-upholding-consumers-right-water-and-energy DTSTAMP:20260818T171947Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR