Powering development in the 21st century was the topic of a debate that aired on BBC World News television channel and also on BBC World Service radio on 16 and 17 July.

Filmed during the Vienna Energy Forum at the Hofburg Palace in June 2011, the debate features Srikumar Banerjee, Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy, India; Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy, South Africa; Peter Droege, President of Eurosolar, Germany; and Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The debate is moderated by BBC World News presenter Zeinab Badawi.

The UN General Assembly named 2012 as the International Year for Sustainable Energy for All. The UN Foundation has launched a website for the Year: www.SEFA2012.org

The 2011 Vienna Energy Forum, organized by UNIDO, the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), brought together more than 1,200 participants from 125 countries including heads of state, policy-makers, experts, civil society and the private sector. A total of 99 key speakers from 45 different countries facilitated the discussion on how to overcome energy poverty and how to move from declarations of intention to tangible action on the ground.

Participants at the Vienna Energy Forum called for bold steps and strategic public-private partnerships to guarantee universal energy access by 2030, including by expanding the use of renewable energy sources.

The World Debate is a monthly programme on the BBC World News channel which aims to convene panels that engage in a robust exchange of views.