Opening Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,

Mr. Dennis Francis,

at the Opening of the Global stocktaking marking the completion of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to further accelerate the implementation of SDG 7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

19 April 2024

[As Delivered]

 

Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-chair of UN-Energy,

Excellencies,

Honourable Ministers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you all most sincerely for joining today’s Global Stocktake, marking the completion of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All.

Allow me to acknowledge, with thanks, the vital support extended to my office from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well as UN Energy, in preparing for this event.

And let me also warmly welcome our invited speakers – the scene-setters and Ministerial Respondents – who will share their rich perspectives as we reflect on the Decade, as a basis for helping us chart our path forward.

 

Excellencies,

The Decade of Sustainable Energy for All was launched in 2014 with ambitious yet achievable objectives – to usher in a future where everyone, everywhere, benefits equally from the innovations and potential of sustainable energy.

The General Assembly Declared the Decade, fully understanding that sustainable energy is a precursor to nearly every one of our development aims and the SDGs – from eradicating poverty and building sustainable cities and communities, to responsible consumption and production.

But as the Decade draws to a close, we must acknowledge that the results of our efforts have been mixed; creating both profound achievements and discernible shortcomings.

On the positive side, since 2014, the principle of sustainable energy for all has become ensconced within the Sustainable Development Goals; elevated to the top of the climate agenda via the Paris Agreement; and adopted as a priority by political and business leaders alike.

The result – a world that has wholly embraced the need for, and potential of, sustainable energy.

And the numbers speak for themselves:

  • The share of renewables-based energy capacity in developing countries has grown in the last decade, reaching 38% in 2021.
  • Developing countries experience on average 9.6 per cent annual growth in renewable energy installation.
  • The global population with access to electricity has increased from 87 per cent to 91 per cent since 2015.
  • And, in 2021, 71% of the global population had access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, up from 64% in 2015.

These numbers are a clear testament to our determined efforts to empower people everywhere – while making strides in protecting the environment.

Yet, the pace of energy transformations is still much too slow – and the benefits are not shared equitably.

  • 473 million people in least developed countries alone remain without electricity.
  • a further 2 billion people continue to rely upon harmful fuels to meet their energy needs.
  • And the consumption of energy remains the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Considering the foregoing, business as usual cannot be a credible option.

We must take urgent action to implement the outcomes in the political declaration issued by the 2023 SDGs Summit. To do so, we must truly deliver to all people, universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, while substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030.

We must also capitalize on the momentum afforded by COP28 to pursue a tripling of renewable energy capacity globally and a doubling of the global average annual rate of energy efficient improvements.

Most importantly, we must rectify the stark moral failure evident in the fact that billions still live without adequate energy, or any energy at all, while others are reportedly planning lunar vacations being offered commercially.

So, how do we do this?

First, we need to put money behind our intentions. This means addressing the concerning reality that investment in clean energy infrastructure continues to decline, all the while needs are going up – and this is especially important given that at least US$ 35 billion annually is needed to reach universal electricity access by 2030.

In addition, TRILLIONS – not billions – trillions are needed to fast-track the energy transitions and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Second, unlocking such finance – as well as making use of these resources – requires multistakeholder partnerships to propel action. We need governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society – all working together to source innovations and expand the means of implementation.

And third, international cooperation and multilateral agreement on sustainable energy must continue to be the standard bearer for our efforts.

After all, it was the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All that helped focus our collective efforts and propel us to where we are today.

If we are to accomplish our goals and targets by 2030, we must make every effort to sustain this political momentum after the Decade officially concludes.

With 2030 just around the corner, I encourage all of us, Member States, private sector, CSOs – and all other relevant stakeholders – to strengthen and further advance international cooperation, to recommit to deliver on SD7 by 2030; and to securing net-zero emissions by 2050.

 

Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I close with a reminder that the Global Stocktake falls to the last day of this first-ever UN Assembly Sustainability Week – and ahead of the SIDS4 Conference in May and the Summit of the Future in September.

So positioned the Stocktake – which caps off a week of discussions on sustainability – allows us to reflect on the role of energy in the transport, tourism, and infrastructure sectors.

It affords us the space and opportunity to share best practices, consolidate opportunities, and to identify innovative solutions to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

With this in view, I happily yield the floor for what I hope will be a holistic and ambitious discussion.

 

I thank you.

 

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