Closing session of Lima Paris Action Agenda event on Energy

The President addressed sustainable energy for all at energy day of COP21

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Statement by H.E. Mr Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the General Assembly at Closing session of the Lima Paris Action Agenda event on Energy: Keeping the momentum 2016-2020

 7 December 2015

 

 

 

Mr Secretary General, Honourable Ministers, fellow panellists, thank you very much for the opportunity to join you in this discussion.

Accounting for almost two-thirds of all anthropogenic GHG emissions, the global energy sector is clearly central to this Climate Conference and to driving forward the low-carbon climate resilient transformation that our world requires.

It is clear that there are extremely positive signs that growth in the global economy and energy-related emissions have started to decouple, forming the basis for a “virtuous circle” of rising ambition which must be exploited.

It is also clear that global action must now focus on phasing out fossil-fuel subsidies, further boosting renewables, enhancing energy efficiency and thinking seriously about a carbon pricing mechanism within the climate change negotiations process.

By bringing forward actions in these areas, and by agreeing an ambitious climate agreement here this week, we stand a very real chance of averting the worst impacts of climate change.

As many of you have noted, however, that is only the beginning, for a shift to clean energy could also have an incredibly positive impact on our ability to realize the SDGs.

As President of the General Assembly, this is my number one priority.

For too long, climate action and action to promote sustainable development have been seen as distinct from each other but, with the SDGs, that distinction is no longer tenable.

That is not to say this is a simple issue and there is no doubt that providing social protection, building peaceful societies or achieving gender equality etc, will require dedicated action and finance that go far beyond what is available to address climate change.

But discussions here today demonstrate very clearly that climate action – whether related to energy, agriculture, infrastructure, or water and sanitation etc – can be and will be a major driver of SDG implementation.

And in April of next year I will convene a special meeting which will demonstrate how this can be done.

Focussing on financing, technology, partnerships, this event will encourage collaboration among a diverse range of actors to give concrete effect to commitments made this year in Addis, New York and I hope here in Paris.

Looking at energy and infrastructure, for example, let me highlight three examples of what this meeting could deliver.

It could signal that all countries who have announced INDCs will be given the policy advice, technical help and capacity building needed to put in place the regulatory frameworks to deliver on their energy targets.

It could deliver a commitment from relevant partners that from 2025 all investments in energy infrastructure worldwide will be in climate smart, sustainable infrastructure.

Or it could build on the ambitious innovation announcements at this COP to help us move forward in developing the large scale storage capacity that the transition to renewable energy urgently requires.

On these and other initiatives, I will be working closely with partners such as the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and the G20, but I also look forward to working with many of you in preparing this event.

That however is next April. First we must reach an agreement here in Paris that is mindful of the action, ambition and equity required – an agreement that signals to the world that the transition to a more sustainable world is well and truly under way.

Thank you.

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