Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
It is my privilege to address you today on this important occasion, the 2023 Global Energy Interconnection Conference.
Today, we convene amidst a world grappling with unprecedented challenges.
At its halfway point, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is seriously off track. The vast majority of targets are either moving too slowly, stalled or have regressed. Only about 15 per cent are progressing at pace.
Likewise, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has yet again warned that we are on track to climate disaster, unless we change course immediately. The global average temperature has already risen by 1.2°C compared to the pre-industrial level.
We need to dramatically accelerate our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Distinguished Participants,
Just one week ago, at the SDG Summit, world leaders pledged to renew their push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in full and on time. A successful push for universal access to clean and sustainable energy sources is critical to that endeavour.
Globally, 675 million people still lack access to electricity, and 2.3 billion people are still using polluting fuels to cook.
We must double down on the energy transition through renewable energy and energy efficiency.
As stressed by the UN Secretary-General, it is mission-critical to continue the progressive phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies, as well as putting a price on carbon, and to triple private and public investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
We also need to create a regionally and globally interconnected energy system to boost the uptake of renewables.
I commend the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization for organizing this event to promote energy infrastructure interconnectivity.
UN DESA stands ready to collaborate with GEIDCO and many other relevant partners to advance the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, ensuring a dignified and prosperous life for all and a sustainable future for humanity.
I wish you a productive discussion.
Thank you!