This project provides background material for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on Global Energy Transformation. One of the most important global challenges of the years to come is to transform energy systems towards sustainability. The specific task is to address several coinciding developments such as global climate change and prevailing lack of access to energy services for over two billion people worldwide. Besides a considerable increase in energy efficiency and a change towards more sustainable lifestyles, this implies a drastical reduction in the use of fossil energy carriers.

The background material on "Global Energy Transformation" describes what it means to transform energy systems towards sustainability. It focuses on the pillors that define sustainable energy systems, discusses the globally different challenges for industrial and emerging countries and sheds some light on the role of international organisations in these transformation processes. Finally, it also contains examples of partner countries of German development cooperation that have developed specific energy strategies.