Republic of Ecuador Position Paper

Harvard Model United Nations 2022 | British International School
Republic of Botswana Position Paper

Committee: United Nations Development Program
Topic: Electrification and Sustainable Development
Country: Republic of Botswana
School: British International School
A. Background of the Topic:
Goal number seven of the sustainable development goals is to “Ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” This is a challenge for the international
community, and has been and aim of the United Nations since electricity became an imperative
factor in the living in right conditions and with dignity.
Universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy services requires expanding
access to electricity and clean cooking fuels and technologies, as well as improving energy
efficiency and increasing the share of renewable energy. However, progress in all these
areas falls short of what is needed to achieve the Goal by 2030. Increased financing and
bolder policies are required, along with the willingness of countries to embrace new
technologies on a much more ambitious scale (United Nations, 2020)
https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2016/Goal-07/
In this order of ideas, one of the biggest challenges is to provide access to electricity, especially
when infrastructure and renewable energy is difficult to afford. Accordingly, developing countries
are more affected, they have monetary difficulties that bans them from providing electricity. The
disconnection between the countries to effectuate projects on this matter is also a problem. Large
nations with more resources to invest in energy are not likely to help other small countries to
address this issue, since it is not a priority. The consequences are not only less people accessing to
electricity in year 2022, but also a high gap of inequality between those countries that can afford
and those that can’t. Additionally, the help of developed countries is not only required to aim small
countries in accessing electricity; it is necessary nations seize the use of non-renewable energy. This
is a challenge as this type of energy is cheaper and do not depend in high infrastructure costs, they
opt for this option instead of renewable energy since it is what they can afford.
B. National Position
According to UNEP (2015) wood fuel is the main source of energy for rural households. It accounts
for about 30 per cent of the country’s primary energy supply and 38 per cent of total final energy
consumption. Biomass supplies 46 per cent household energy nationally, increasing to 77 per cent
at the rural level. The next source of energy, after wood, is coal which is also a non-renewable
energy source. Botswana very dependable on coal, mainly because it is abundant and cost effective.
Though, again this type of non-renewable sources of energy are not aligned with the development
goals. Many citizens, mostly on rural areas depend on this vintage sources that are corrosive to the
environment, and are not likely to meet the efficiency required for daily imperative tasks like
cooking, working, or providing light.
With this said context, Botswana has tried to implement strategies through the reduction of energy
in sectors where cut can be made. An example of this was on October 2015, when the government
articulated its energy-related Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC). The overall
aim is to achieve an emissions reduction of 15 per cent by 2030, from the energy sources
categorized as stationary and mobile sources.
Moreover, in 2020 Botswana implemented a Master Plan on Energy in order to invest in solar
energy systems to provide electricity to more places in rural areas, where there is no access. Namely
the programs were the following:
1. Promotion of solar energy by the Botswana Government.
2. Integration of grid and non-grid technologies.
3. Encouragement of research and development with regard to renewable energy sources.
4. Identification of an appropriate institutional framework for rural electricity using renewable

energy.
5. Development of strategies for removing the barriers to widespread use of renewable energies.
6. Promotion of women and children’s welfare through the provision of PV power generation
(lighting).
Nonetheless, these strategies can be effective in a short period of time, still there are many places in
Botswana where there is no access to essential and practical energy, and in the areas where there is,
is nor limited or depends on non-renewable energy sources like coal
C. Possible solutions:
For the nations in short term, it is possible to implement strategies with the ministers in charge of
energy and mining, but it may not be enough for developing countries like Botswana, since there is
shortage in government budget and there is a large scale of population with this energy issues.
Moreover, emphasizing in just accessing to energy is not a viable solution, since most of the
countries that depend in specific resources will opt for using them up or cost-effective solutions like
using coal. Reason why, Botswana believes nations should be united to tackle this issue. By this,
Botswana not only refers to economic contributions, as it is still a short-term solutions, though big
nations should make an effort to incentive renewable energy corporations to invest in small
countries; it will improve infrastructure and lower government costs. As well instruct governments
on how to distribute budgets in order to tackle this issue.
Bibliography:
 https://www.unep.org/resources/report/energy-profile-botswana
 https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/botswana-energy
 https://www.iea.org/policies/4856-botswana-energy-master-plan
 https://www.seforall.org/sites/default/files/l/2015/05/Botswana_RAGA.pdf

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Harvard Model United Nations 2022 | British International School

Republic of Botswana Position Paper

A. Background of the Topic:

1. Promotion of solar energy by the Botswana Government.

2. Integration of grid and non-grid technologies.

3. Encouragement of research and development with regard to renewable energy sources.

4. Identification of an appropriate institutional framework for rural electricity using renewable

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