The fourth session of the Group of Experts on Renewable Energy Efficiency (GERE) will focus on the implementation of activities under the current biennium and on the activities planned for the Work Plan 2018-2019.

This year discussion will be tackling the following themes:

• Tracking progress of renewable energy development - Based on the key findings of the REN21 UNECE Renewable Energy Status Report 2017, experts will discuss the implications for the Group of Experts and the UNECE region, in particular related on  how to tackle obstacles and bottlenecks and take advantage of existing opportunities.
• Best practices on how to increase the uptake of renewable energy -  The discussion will consider the link between policy measures and market conditions to boost renewable energy investments and share the successful experience of ad hoc UNECE “Hard Talks” in specific countries.
• Integration of renewable energy in future sustainable energy systems and cross-cutting collaboration - Participants  will discuss the need to engage in cross-cutting activities on transition of the energy sector with a focus on renewable energy to be implemented in cooperation with the Committee on Sustainable Energy, other Groups of Experts as well as other intergovernmental bodies of UNECE, e.g. on water, environment, forestry, and public-private partnerships.
• Promotion of renewable energy investments - Investments in renewable energy are still lacking in South East and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.  The discussion will allow the exchange of views on how to boost investments through various tools and activities, including specific activities to match project developers with investors and policy makers.