Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
It is a great pleasure to address all of you at this thematic event at COP28 on a just and inclusive energy transition.
First of all, I would like to congratulate and thank GEIDCO for convening this event.
The urgency of our mission cannot be overstated, as we stand at a pivotal moment in human history.
The SDG Summit in September demonstrated that, despite some positive advancements, the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals have veered significantly off track.
At the halfway mark, only about 15 per cent of SDG targets are on track to be met by 2030.
At the same time, the global average temperature has already risen by 1.2 degree compared to the pre-industrial level.
Globally, 675 million people still lack access to electricity, and 2.3 billion people are still using polluting fuels to cook.
Our current trajectory is unsustainable, and we must use the limited time we have left to correct course and accelerate progress. It is a time for transformation.
Energy is pivotal in achieving both the 2030 Agenda and the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Indeed, advancements on SDG7 can catalyse progress in many other areas. Sustainable modern energy services are essential for addressing climate change, promoting environmental protection, reducing poverty, spurring economic growth, and providing access to quality public healthcare and education.
It will require strengthened political will, increased levels of investment and scaled-up multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve universal energy access and accelerate clean energy transitions.
Interconnection of global energy infrastructure can significantly contribute to this by accelerating the development of clean energy in countries worldwide, while reducing the costs of energy services.
To realize that potential, it is urgent for all of us to pull together.
We look forward to working with GEIDCO and all other partners to promote SDG7.
We must invest in transformative partnerships and expand progress on the SDGs. And we must prioritize not only decarbonization but also ensure just, inclusive and equitable energy transitions.
Let us seize this moment here at COP 28 to accelerate the global momentum towards clean and affordable energy for all.
And let us draw on the unique opportunity provided by the Summit of the Future in 2024 to rise to the challenges of an increasingly complex world and deliver the type of fundamental shifts in multilateral cooperation that the world needs.
It is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
Thank you!