Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
I would like to warmly welcome all of you to this High-level Luncheon on Accelerating SDG 7 Action for the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement: Universal Energy Access and Just, Inclusive and Equitable Energy Transition.
Let me first thank my colleagues, the Co-Chairs of UN-Energy, Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP, and Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, for joining me in this luncheon as partners.
I would like to extend sincere gratitude to the Member State representatives here with us today, including many Ministers, for joining this High-level Luncheon. We are honoured by your presence.
Sustainable energy is key to the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Since the High-level Dialogue on Energy convened there in UNHQ ten months ago, we are confronted with ever more urgency to act.
We are facing a climate catastrophe.
The socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened in many places.
The conflict in Ukraine has sparked interlinked food, finance and energy crises.
The SDG 7 Tracking Report and the SDG7 Policy Briefs that were recently launched show that we must drastically step up our efforts to deliver on the historic success of the Dialogue, by implementing the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG7 Action and about 200 Energy Compacts that have been announced to-date.
Under the leadership of the Co-Chairs, UN-Energy is stepping up its efforts through the UN-Energy Plan of Action Towards 2025 and the Energy Compact Action Network which will be crucial for effective multistakeholder engagement.
Excellencies,
The world simply cannot afford hesitation on energy action.
The 2nd global review of SDG7 at the High-level Political Forum next year provides a unique opportunity.
The SDG7 Technical Advisory Group, convened by my Department UN DESA, will continue to provide substantive inputs.
The forthcoming UNFCCC COP27 in Egypt will be critical for scaling up climate action, including for universal energy access and just, inclusive energy transitions.
In 2024, the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All will complete its implementation, presenting a unique opportunity for a global stocktaking towards SDG7.
Such a global stock taking should provide a platform for Member States and other stakeholders to share lessons and experiences to encourage learning and inspire further action.
It should also assess the progress achieved to-date and the challenges ahead in filling the implementation gaps towards the SDG7 achievement. Bottom-up engagements, including at the regional level, will be critical to inform this process.
And it should mobilize further action and partnerships by all stakeholders towards SDG 7 and net zero emissions, building on the Energy Compacts, to scale up means of implementation.
Excellencies,
In closing, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all those Member States that have strongly supported our work in preparing and following-up on the High-level Dialogue on Energy. This includes, in particular, the 30 Champion countries.
May I assure you that UN DESA will continue to strongly support all Member States and other stakeholders in their pursuit of SDG7.
We will continue to strengthen our efforts as the UN-Energy secretariat to support the Co-Chairs and all our partners.
Again, a warm welcome to all of you and I look forward to very fruitful discussions.
Thank you.