WSDS 2026 Thematic Track: Global South Collaboration for Clean Mobility and Energy- Efficient Appliances.

Problem Statement and State of Play

Historically, cross-border energy cooperation has prioritized the supply side; however, in the Global South, rising energy demand is increasingly driven by the appliances and transport sectors. Without robust demand-side efficiency, countries risk locking themselves into high-cost, import-dependent, and energy-intensive growth trajectories.

Evidence from the Global South proves that coordinated efficiency action delivers results. Aligning vehicle efficiency standards has successfully reduced fuel consumption and operating costs while bolstering industrial competitiveness. Similarly, in the appliance sector, stringent policies paired with market transformation tools—such as bulk procurement—have effectively lowered prices and expanded access to efficient technologies.

Despite these successes, globally traded appliance markets and uneven domestic capacities leave many nations vulnerable to the "dumping" of inefficient products and escalating consumer costs. Cross-border collaboration—through the harmonization of standards, shared testing infrastructure, and demand aggregation—can bridge these gaps. India’s leadership in this space demonstrates how energy efficiency can deliver affordability, energy security, and globally competitive manufacturing, offering a scalable blueprint for South–South cooperation.

Objectives of the Thematic Track

This session aims to position cross-border demand-side cooperation as a strategic tool to enhance trade, affordability, and energy security across the Global South. It will showcase India’s leadership in market transformation while facilitating peer-to-peer learning to accelerate regional energy transitions.

Discussion Questions

• Market Integrity & Trade: How can the mutual recognition of appliance efficiency standards enhance export competitiveness and energy security while shielding markets from low-efficiency product dumping?
• Affordability & Scale: What role can regional demand aggregation and coordinated procurement play in reducing technology costs and accelerating access to high-efficiency appliances?
• Sectoral Lessons: What specific insights from Global South experiences in transport and appliances demonstrate the greatest value for consumers, utilities, and industry?
• Scaling the Model: How can India’s proven expertise in standards, market transformation, and large-scale procurement be leveraged to institutionalize South–South collaboration on energy efficiency?

About the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS)

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is the annual flagship Track II initiative organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Instituted in 2001, the Summit series has a legacy of over two decades for making ‘sustainable development’ a globally shared goal. The only independently convened international Summit on sustainable development and environment, based in the Global South, WSDS strives to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of global communities by assembling the world’s most enlightened leaders and thinkers on a single platform. The 25th edition of the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)—the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS)—will be held from 25-27 February 2026 in New Delhi. The deliberations of the Silver Jubilee edition of the Summit will focus on the umbrella theme of Parivartan: Transformations: Vision, Voices and Values for Sustainable Development.