About UN ECE
UNECE's major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration. UNECE includes 56 member States in Europe, North America and Asia. However, all interested United Nations member States may participate in the work of UNECE. Over 70 international professional organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE activities.Activities by UN ECE
Policies for inclusive and digitalized power grids in countries with special needs in the ECE, ESCAP, and ESCWA regions
Global BelarusGeorgiaIraqJordanMongoliaTajikistanIn many countries with special needs, the need for more resilient and sustainable energy systems has intensified in the recent years against the backdrop of aging energy infrastructure and growing energy demand. In this context, integration of new renewables-based decentralized energy resources into legacy systems poses a significant challenge. At the same time, many countries with special needs are under increasing pressure to drive efficiency and innovation within the energy sector. Without strategic governance frameworks that embrace digital technologies and support their concerted integration, while addressing the risks such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities and data privacy, most initiatives and efforts to modernize energy systems might turn out to be fragmented and short-lived. Moreover, gender and socio-economic disparities can impede the inclusivity of these transitions, thus potentially leaving certain populations out of the planning and decision-making processes. This project will respond to these critical needs by equipping target countries with harmonized policy approaches and providing targeted capacity-building, with a focus on responsible and inclusive digital transformation in the energy sector. The project will focus on developing a digital governance policy framework that will enable target countries to modernize and better manage their power grids through embracing the twin transition approach. By promoting integration of decentralized energy resources, the project will offer pathways to enhance energy access and grid reliability and resilience. This will be accomplished through capacity-building for policymakers, regulators and utilities, and facilitating regional cooperation to develop harmonized approaches for governance policies for digital transformation of the power sector while ensuring interoperability with legacy systems. Key policy interventions would focus on support of research and development, technological and market innovation, cross-industry collaboration, data protection and ensuring cyber resilience to digital vulnerabilities, behavioural change, and responsible use of digital technologies to avoid rebound effects. The planned policy framework will provide standardized approaches for the integration of digital tools into grid infrastructure.
Activity Type Technical AssistanceResearch/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceReadiness for implementation of advanced metering infrastructure and building energy management systems in public buildings in selected countries of South-Eastern Europe. Technical and governance assessment for Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia
Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States Bosnia and HerzegovinaNorth MacedoniaThis report - under UNECE Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation - presents a comprehensive assessment of the governance, policy, and technical readiness of Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia for the deployment of advanced metering infrastructure and building management systems in public buildings. It evaluates the alignment of national legislation with the evolving European Union Energy Acquis, the maturity of institutional frameworks, and the capacity of existing energy management information systems to transition from manual reporting toward automated, real‑time digital energy management. Through comparative analysis, the study identifies key gaps, including legal fragmentation, data interoperability challenges, and uneven technical capacity, and outlines actionable recommendations to support the modernization of public‑sector energy governance. The report aims to provide policymakers, regulators, and development partners with a clear roadmap to accelerate digitalization, strengthen energy efficiency, and advance decarbonization across the public building stock in South‑Eastern Europe.
Activity Type Technical AssistancePolicy/Regulatory GuidanceUnited for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC)
Global Not ApplicableU4SSC is a global UN collaboration that supports cities in advancing the SDGs by promoting people-centered, digitally inclusive, and climate-resilient urban development. It provides guidance on integrating ICTs and AI into city operations and has developed a globally recognized set of KPIs for smart sustainable cities, implemented in more than 250 cities worldwide.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceAwareness/AdvocacyNetworks/Mentorship/ExchangeDigital Transformation for Sustainable Energy: Consensus Check 2025. Interpreting regional survey findings and their strategic implications
Global AlbaniaAlgeriaArmeniaAustraliaAzerbaijanBangladeshBelgiumBulgariaCameroonCanadaFranceGhanaIndiaIranIsraelItalyJapanLuxembourgNetherlandsNigeriaPakistanPhilippinesPolandRomaniaRussian FederationSouth AfricaSwitzerlandTanzaniaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUzbekistan
Data centres are integral to the transformation underpinning modern energy systems and economies. As the backbone of digitalization, they enable critical services ranging from cloud computing to Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things ecosystems. Their rapid expansion, however, poses significant sustainability and infrastructure challenges that necessitate action to align with climate goals and ensure energy systems resilience. The document examines the evolving role of data centres in the power sector, emphasizing their growing environmental footprint and impact on grid infrastructure, offering policy recommendations on five priority areas:
1. Establishing robust key performance indicators on sustainability across the full lifecycle of data centres (including carbon, water, and material circularity metrics, sensitive to regional context)
2. Enhancing data transparency and availability to better understand and manage environmental impacts;
3. Enabling demand-side flexibility through grid integration, advanced automation, and regulatory clarity;
4. Promoting circular economy principles by extending hardware lifespan, improving reuse and recycling;
5. Fostering public-private partnerships to drive investment, innovation, and workforce development aligned with sustainable outcomes.
The document urges redefining the performance criteria for data centres, moving beyond uptime and throughput to embedding sustainability at the core of design, operation, and governance, to prevent compromising climate targets and broader resource management efforts.