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| Paris Alignment | Reasoning |
| N/A | Not relevant to EBRD region at present. |
| Alignment and Reasoning | |
| Energy Access Target | No. |
| Minimum Definition of Access | N/A – clarification welcome. |
| % of Energy Financing Dedicated to Energy Access | N/A – clarification welcome. |
| Is Progress Monitored | N/A – clarification welcome. |
| Progress Against Metrics | N/A – clarification welcome. |
Explanation
The Bank’s 2019-2023 Energy Sector Strategy points briefly to energy access, but puts more emphasis on renewable energy and energy security.
During discussions around the Green Economy Transition Approach 2.1, the issue of energy access does not appear to have been raised.
Up to date information on energy access progress is not easily available. A 2016 report by Sierra Club and Oil Change on assessing the MDBs on their financing towards energy access between 2012-2014, gave every MDB an ‘F’ rating for their progress on helping to achieve universal energy access*.
It should be noted that the EBRD is considering extending its countries of operations to sub-Saharan Africa, where energy access is a major challenge.
Recommendation: The EBRD should make available progress on above data, if relevant, since 2014 due to the absence of a similar report, and all MDBs should consider commissioning a joint report on their progress across SE4All metrics.
The EBRD does appear to have done some work in the area of fuel poverty, for example, helping to increase building insulation in Slovakia.
*They assessed the percentage of energy finance (2012-2014) towards energy access against a benchmark of 50% as well as other qualitative measures.
Note on the EBRD and EIB and energy access
The EBRD and EIB work predominantly in Europe and Central Asia. Of the 39 countries in which EBRD operates, for example, only two have a population with access to electricity of less than 99.8%. These are Mongolia (85.6%) and Morocco (91.6%). Therefore, it is understandable that the EIB and EBRD do not have a strong focus on energy access. EBRD is therefore not ranked on energy access. However, the EU Energy Poverty Observatory highlights that action is needed to address energy poverty in the EU and beyond. It is important to remember that energy access also covers access to space heating as per the SEforAll and ESMAP Multi-tier framework, and that part of energy access is still relevant in parts of Europe and Central Asia. It should also be noted that both are in the process of becoming more active outside of their traditional regions, including for example sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore energy access will become more and more relevant for these banks.
Last Update: November 2020