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Opening remarks by Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly at SE4All event on “Implementing SDG 7: The role of partnerships in ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all”
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Heads of State and Governments, Honourable Ministers,
Mr. Deputy Secretary General, Distinguished leaders of the World Bank Group and the Africa Development Bank ,
Madame Moderator, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning to you all.
On Friday, we witnessed an historic moment with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. This revolutionary Agenda marks the beginning of a new chapter in global efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger and to create a world of equality, prosperity, sustainability, peace and justice.
Throughout history, developments in the energy sector have been a driving force for human development and social progress. Today, securing sustainable energy, a subject which is very close to me heart, can play a similar role.
The needs are truly great. As I speak, some 1.1 billion people are without access to electricity. Nearly 3 billion people who have no clean cooking facilities. And close on 88% of our energy comes from non-renewable sources.
With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, we now have a clear set of targets on energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy. And with leadership from the Government of Denmark and the SG’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative, we have solid foundations from which to move forward.
But as the Global Tracking Framework Report 2015 demonstrates, progress achieved in recent years falls well short of what is required. What we need now is action. Implementation requires determination, partnership, finance, technology and innovation. Business as usual is simply not enough.
Implementation requires partnerships involving governments, international organizations, financial institutions, civil society, young people, the private sector and all other stakeholders.
It requires scaled up investment, from public and private sources, in resilient and sustainable energy, particularly in least developed countries, small island developing states, and land-locked developing countries, which demands a regulatory framework that makes investment in Sustainable Energy the best and most obvious investment.
Implementation also requires the transfer of clean energy technology to developing countries and support to improve capacities in designing, delivering and maintaining efficient and sustainable energy services.
These priorities have been addressed by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda. It is my hope that these will also be addressed by a universal and ambitious climate agreement in Paris in just two months’ time.
Ladies and Gentlemen, action over the next twelve months will go a long way to determining whether these Goals are successful or not. During this 70th session, my priority will be to ensure that we do not lose momentum.
In April, for example, I will convene a high level event on sustainable development, climate change and finance, which will focus world attention on early examples of progress and opportunities for partnerships to drive implementation. In addition, I will work to facilitate the establishment of a Technology Facilitation Mechanism, and advance work on an LDC Technology Bank.
As we embark on this journey, I am fully confident that with political leadership and the full engagement of all stakeholders, we can make sustainable energy for all a reality by 2030.
We can move from ambitious commitments to transformational action for people and planet.
Thank you.