In September 2011, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) as a global initiative in support of sustainable development. SE4ALL mobilizes action from all sectors of society on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access.

Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency is among the three goals of SE4ALL. Energy efficiency is indeed crucial to help meet future energy demands and mitigate climate change, while delivering more services to consumers. Moving global markets to more efficient products such as lighting, refrigerators, room air conditioners, electric motors, distribution transformers and information and communication technologies will save 10% of the global electricity consumption, nearly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of the European Union. Global action to promote energy-efficient products is key to achieving the SE4ALL energy-efficiency goal.

To help reach the energy-efficiency goal, SE4ALL has established the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform under which action areas in six different sectors – called Accelerators – were identified to drive commitments and action at national level. U4E and en.lighten have been officially selected by SE4ALL to lead the implementation of two Energy Efficiency Accelerators for lighting and appliances and equipment.