In order to help member States to formulate sustainable energy policies and strategies, and upon a recommendation by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Committee on Energy (CoE) at its 11th session (14-16 May 2017, Cairo) addressed to ESCWA Secretariat, to form an Expert Group on Fossil Fuels (GEFF), as a sub-committee of the CoE, working in accordance with the ESCWA rules and United Nations regulations in that regard. It aims to provide a forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and exchange of information on: promoting sustainable and clean energy production, distribution and consumption of fossil fuels, role of natural gas, methane and carbon management, technology transfer and innovation, climate change actions, and any new initiatives and topics that are in line with the strategic framework and work program of ESCWA. The first meeting of GEFF was held on 5 Dec. 2018 and the second on 28 November 2019.
The 3rd Meeting of the GEFF will take place on 10 December 2020 and aims to highlight the economic and energy outlook in the Arab region post Covid-19, the uncertainty over the duration of the pandemic and its economic and social impacts. The meeting will also shed light on the impact on financing and capital market for Arab national oil companies, the outcomes of the T20 Saudi Arabia and the G20 including on climate change and the role of circular carbon economy under the 4R as well on potential of hydrogen to support the energy transition in the Arab region.