Excellencies,Distinguished Participants,Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to address the 2019 Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum.
I wish to thank all the co-sponsors for hosting this important conference.
Excellencies,
In today’s world, achieving sustainable development has become a common objective of all countries for the benefit of improving people’s livelihood and protecting our planet.
Four years have passed since both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change were adopted by world leaders. Significant momentum is growing across the world.
However, at present, the world is not on track to meet many of the Sustainable Development Goals – or to keep the global temperature rise within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Globally, hunger is on the rise. The rate of poverty reduction has slowed. Inequalities are increasing. The negative trends in biodiversity loss and global green-house gas emissions continue to persist. We must raise ambitions and scale up action.
Distinguished Participants,
This year’s theme of the Taiyuan Forum, Energy Revolution - International Cooperation, is as timely as ever.
At the recent SDG Summit held at the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres called for a decade of action to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Energy is recognized as one of the specific solutions that link up and have impact across all 17 SDGs.
The newly released Global Sustainable Development Report – prepared by an Independent Group of Scientists – identifies energy decarbonization with universal access as one of the 6 entry points to accelerate achievement across many SDG goals and targets.
This is also supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report. This report shows that limiting warming to 1.5ºC is still possible. However, it requires rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, along with land, industry, buildings, transport and cities. That is why all countries must be united to accelerate the global energy transformation to achieve both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
I commend the government of China for its leadership on clean energy development and its efforts to promote renewable energy infrastructure – at home and all over the world.
China continued to lead the global clean energy development last year, adding over 20 gigawatts of wind power and more than 40 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic power. China’s nascent emissions trading scheme has also shown the promise of a robust carbon market. The anticipated enhancement of its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement will provide a critical opportunity to demonstrate China’s bold leadership in addressing climate change.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Shanxi province, as a traditional energy center, is well positioned to provide a platform to share experiences and discuss opportunities for promoting energy transformation and sustainable development. I commend the leadership of Shanxi provincial government for establishing specific policies to promote clean energy and address climate change.
The Work Plan on Controlling Greenhouse Gases Emissions within the Twelfth Five Year Plan Period issued by Shanxi Province has clearly defined carbon emission reduction targets against its GDP.
I remain optimistic that Shanxi will continue to lead by example in realizing a just and sustainable energy future for all.
Distinguished Participants,
As the secretariat for the follow-up of the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is firmly committed to supporting an accelerated energy transition throughout the world.
Our work on the Sustainable Development Goals helps countries translate their global commitments into national action in the economic, social and environmental spheres.
We will:•strengthen coordination across the UN system in supporting actions by member states, •facilitate global dialogues on energy, including experience and technology sharing, and•promote the synergies between climate action and the broader SDG agenda, to scale up ambition and commitment in transition of economic structure.The Second Global Conference on Sustainable Transport, to be held in Beijing in May 2020 will provide excellent platforms to catalyze further action. As the Conference-Secretary-General, I look forward to working with all stakeholders to make this conference a great success in promoting sustainable transport, in particular the energy transition in transport.
Excellencies,
In closing, and on a personal note, it gives me great pleasure to return to my home province and witness the determination and ingenuity of Shanxi Government and the people to transition to a low-carbon economy.
I am humbled by your warm hospitality and I wish you a very successful Forum.
Thank you.
It gives me great pleasure to address the 2019 Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum.
I wish to thank all the co-sponsors for hosting this important conference.
Excellencies,
In today’s world, achieving sustainable development has become a common objective of all countries for the benefit of improving people’s livelihood and protecting our planet.
Four years have passed since both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change were adopted by world leaders. Significant momentum is growing across the world.
However, at present, the world is not on track to meet many of the Sustainable Development Goals – or to keep the global temperature rise within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Globally, hunger is on the rise. The rate of poverty reduction has slowed. Inequalities are increasing. The negative trends in biodiversity loss and global green-house gas emissions continue to persist. We must raise ambitions and scale up action.
Distinguished Participants,
This year’s theme of the Taiyuan Forum, Energy Revolution - International Cooperation, is as timely as ever.
At the recent SDG Summit held at the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres called for a decade of action to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Energy is recognized as one of the specific solutions that link up and have impact across all 17 SDGs.
The newly released Global Sustainable Development Report – prepared by an Independent Group of Scientists – identifies energy decarbonization with universal access as one of the 6 entry points to accelerate achievement across many SDG goals and targets.
This is also supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report. This report shows that limiting warming to 1.5ºC is still possible. However, it requires rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, along with land, industry, buildings, transport and cities. That is why all countries must be united to accelerate the global energy transformation to achieve both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
I commend the government of China for its leadership on clean energy development and its efforts to promote renewable energy infrastructure – at home and all over the world.
China continued to lead the global clean energy development last year, adding over 20 gigawatts of wind power and more than 40 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic power. China’s nascent emissions trading scheme has also shown the promise of a robust carbon market. The anticipated enhancement of its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement will provide a critical opportunity to demonstrate China’s bold leadership in addressing climate change.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Shanxi province, as a traditional energy center, is well positioned to provide a platform to share experiences and discuss opportunities for promoting energy transformation and sustainable development. I commend the leadership of Shanxi provincial government for establishing specific policies to promote clean energy and address climate change.
The Work Plan on Controlling Greenhouse Gases Emissions within the Twelfth Five Year Plan Period issued by Shanxi Province has clearly defined carbon emission reduction targets against its GDP.
I remain optimistic that Shanxi will continue to lead by example in realizing a just and sustainable energy future for all.
Distinguished Participants,
As the secretariat for the follow-up of the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is firmly committed to supporting an accelerated energy transition throughout the world.
Our work on the Sustainable Development Goals helps countries translate their global commitments into national action in the economic, social and environmental spheres.
We will:•strengthen coordination across the UN system in supporting actions by member states, •facilitate global dialogues on energy, including experience and technology sharing, and•promote the synergies between climate action and the broader SDG agenda, to scale up ambition and commitment in transition of economic structure.The Second Global Conference on Sustainable Transport, to be held in Beijing in May 2020 will provide excellent platforms to catalyze further action. As the Conference-Secretary-General, I look forward to working with all stakeholders to make this conference a great success in promoting sustainable transport, in particular the energy transition in transport.
Excellencies,
In closing, and on a personal note, it gives me great pleasure to return to my home province and witness the determination and ingenuity of Shanxi Government and the people to transition to a low-carbon economy.
I am humbled by your warm hospitality and I wish you a very successful Forum.
Thank you.
File date:
Tuesday, October 22, 2019