International ESCO Symposium 2025 – The Role of International Agreements and Supranational Regulation

Moderated by Dr. Clara Camarasa (UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre), this panel explored how international agreements and supranational regulations—such as the Paris Agreement and EU directives—drive national energy efficiency targets and how these are translated into actionable frameworks. The session featured insights from representatives of Türkiye, Kosovo, Mauritius, and the Global ESCO Network.

Key Themes and Insights

Global Frameworks and Their Role

Søren Lütken (UNEP, Global ESCO Network) emphasized that supranational agreements:

• Provide a framework and direction (e.g., 1.5°C target).
• Create peer pressure and coalitions of the willing.
• Raise awareness and activate national governments.
• Are not implementation tools themselves but catalysts for national action.

Dr. Bilal Düzgün – Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Türkiye)

• Introduced EPC regulations for public buildings, allowing 15-year contracts.
• Revised legislation to include inflation adjustments and lower investment thresholds.
• Emphasized the importance of technical capacity building and training (e.g., CMVP certification).
• Highlighted the need for tailored national policies informed by international best practices.

Dr. Petrit Ahmeti – Department of Kosovo Energy Efficiency Fund (Kosovo)

• Used EU directives to develop national laws on energy efficiency and building performance.
• Created a national energy efficiency fund acting as a super ESCO.
• Challenges include financial constraints, lack of trained professionals, and regulatory harmonization.
• Voluntarily aligning with EU and Paris Agreement targets through a National Energy and Climate Plan.

Keeshav Ramkurrun – Energy Efficiency Management Office of Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities (Mauritius)

• Aims for 10% energy efficiency improvement and 60% renewable energy by 2030.
• Facing rising cooling demand; introduced MEPS for air conditioners.
• Developing a guarantee fund with UNEP to de-risk ESCO investments.
• Identified key barriers: technical risk, M&V challenges, and limited access to finance.

Common Challenges Identified

• Translating international goals into enforceable national policies.
• Lack of financing mechanisms and ESCO-friendly regulations.
• Insufficient technical capacity and market trust in EPC models.
• Regulatory misalignment and complexity of incentives.

Conclusion

The session concluded with a powerful reflection by Søren Lütken, who emphasized that while international agreements like the Paris Agreement are essential for setting global climate goals, they are not sufficient on their own. These frameworks provide direction and peer pressure but lack enforcement mechanisms. Real progress must occur at the national level, where policies can be implemented and enforced. Lütken challenged policymakers to move beyond voluntary commitments and adopt mandatory implementation measures, particularly in the field of energy efficiency. Without enforcement, even the best-designed frameworks will fall short of their goals. The panel collectively underscored that ESCOs are vital instruments for translating global ambitions into local action, but their success depends on supportive ecosystems that include regulation, financing, and capacity building. The session closed with a call to continue the dialogue and collaboration needed to bridge the gap between international ambition and national implementation.