High-Level Breakfast Meeting-Pathways and Partnerships to Leverage the Energy Transition in SIDS

Excellencies,Distinguished Participants,Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to join you at this important meeting.

I thank President Remengesau, Director General La Camera, Under-Secretary-General Utoikamanu, and Ambassador Sareer, for leading such a timely discussion. We are here to continue the momentum of the Climate Action Summit and the S.A.M.O.A Pathway Mid-Term Review.

Small Island Developing States are at the forefront of climate change. Indeed, their very existence is at stake. With the ambitious SIDS Climate Action Summit Package, SIDS have demonstrated a bold vision for enhanced climate action initiatives:

• through their Nationally Determined Contributions, and
• by accelerating the adoption of sustainable energy to achieve ambitious energy transition targets, by 2030.

Excellencies,Renewable energy solutions are crucial for SIDS to cut back on costly, imported fossil-fuel dependence. Transitioning to renewable energy also offers significant co-benefits, including:

• generating decent jobs,
• strengthening rural livelihoods, and
• enabling broader access to essential services such as water, health and education.
• Positive impacts on the lives of women can also be expected.

I commend many SIDS governments for setting a target for 100% renewable-based power generation. As SIDS continue to update and implement their NDCs, there is an unprecedented opportunity for this transition. That is why I commend SIDS governments and IRENA for their commitment to the SIDS Lighthouse Initiative. Its aim is to expand renewable energy at scale.

Distinguished Participants,The Department of Economic and Social Affairs is firmly committed to support an accelerated energy transition to realize a resilient, carbon-neutral world by 2050.

First, we are committed to assisting SIDS in their efforts to deliver on the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Second, we will strengthen our support to SDG 7 by working together with like-minded partners. In this regard, DESA will strengthen cooperation with IRENA, based on the recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding.

Third, we will continue to promote the synergies between climate action and the broader SDG agenda to scale up ambition in implementation. We look forward to meeting you at our SDG synergy pavilion with UNFCCC COP 25. We also look forward to seeing you at the global conferences next year on transport in Beijing, and the ocean in Lisbon, to catalyze further actions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We heard from the scientists at the Climate Summit and the SDG Summit. Our sustainable development and climate goals are at risk of not being realized. But as the Global Sustainable Development Report points out, success is still possible. We need to mobilize greater political will and enhance cooperation along six entry points.

Universal access to decarbonized energy is one them. The SIDS are demonstrating how to get this done. We count on your leadership to make it happen. I thank you for joining and I look forward to a fruitful discussion.