The energy and climate crises are surging. The next big step in mobilizing action and support for the critical transition to clean, affordable energy and net-zero emissions is taking place on 4 May 2022 with the launch of the UN-Energy Plan of Action and the Energy Compact Action Network. The launch aims to realize the commitments made in connection with the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy in September 2021 and its outcome, the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG 7 Action.
The UN-Energy Plan of Action will create a framework for collective action to be carried out by the 30 UN and international organizations that comprise UN-Energy, the principal coordinating mechanism on energy within the UN system. The goal of this framework will be to achieve the massive pledge UN-Energy made at the time of the High-level Dialogue in 2021. By 2025, the Plan aims to increase the amount of people who have access to electricity by 500 million and increase the number of people with access to clean cooking by 1 billion. Additionally, the Plan aims for a 100% increase in renewables capacity globally by 2025 and no new coal power plans in the pipeline after 2021.
The Energy Compact Action Network will bring together national and city governments, businesses and other civil society partners who have committed to Energy Compacts. The goal is to direct investment, know-how, and resources to help achieve the commitments made in connection with the 2021 high-level event. Over $600 billion in funding and investment have been pledged by governments and businesses as part of more than 200 Energy Compact voluntary commitments. To showcase the potential of this new platform, the launch event will feature new and expanded coalitions that will tackle large-scale challenges of energy access and transition in both Nigeria and the city of Santiago, Chile. Additional coalitions will aim to strengthen the role of women in a just energy transition and advance green hydrogen as an alternative fuel source.
The launch ceremony, starting at 9 am EDT on 4 May, will include remarks by Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin of UN DESA, head of the secretariat for UN-Energy; and UN-Energy Co-Chairs Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP, and Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. Watch online or follow @UN_Energy on Twitter for broadcast details.