The meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development comes against a backdrop of rising energy prices, mounting concern over energy security fueled by the Iranian nuclear crisis and alarm over climate change.

Illustrating the urgency of the issue, Georgian Finance Minister Aleksi Aleksishvily, the chair of the commission's 14th session, had to postpone his arrival because of a national emergency over rising fuel costs back home.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili last week said rising electricity tariffs expected to hit Georgian households in June resulted from Russia's decision to sharply increase the price of its gas exports to Georgia.

In a message read out on his behalf, Aleksishvily said the commission's session "should aim at having a real impact on improving access to reliable, affordable and clean energy services".

The commission noted that energy use was expected to jump by 50 percent over the next 25 years, with two-thirds of that hike expected in the developing world.

Currently 1.6 billion people still do not have access to electricity and 2.4 billion people -- more than a third of the world's total -- still cook and heat with traditional fuels such as firewood or dung.

According to the World Bank, 300 billion dollars (240 billion euros) will have to be invested annually to meet the energy needs of developing countries through more efficient and cleaner sources.

The highlight of the session will be a ministerial segment, to be attended by UN chief Kofi Annan, beginning May 10.

The commission, which was created in 1992 to ensure an effective follow-up to the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, is part of the UN Economic and Social Council.

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