Excellencies,Distinguished guests,Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to launch the 2020 edition of the “SDG7 Policy Briefs: Accelerating SDG 7 in the time of COVID-19.”
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Energy – the Permanent Representatives of Denmark, Ethiopia, Norway and Pakistan, for their collaboration to host this year’s global launch.
Please also allow me to congratulate the SDG7 indicator custodians for this year’s SDG7 Energy Progress Report, being launched today. I wish to commend the leadership of Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, as chair for this year’s report.Ladies and gentlemen,
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been both immediate and appalling, and represents the biggest shock to the global energy system in decades. It has caused tremendous uncertainty in our collective efforts toward SDG7 achievement.
Yet, over the long term, climate change remains the biggest threat to humanity. Should the pandemic slow the clean energy transition, it will severely jeopardize our fight against climate change.
Equally importantly, without ensuring universal energy access, the 2030 Agenda will be in jeopardy, since energy is strongly linked with many SDGs.
Accelerating energy decarbonization with universal access is a critical means for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. This is also emphasized by the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019.Ladies and gentlemen,
The forthcoming High-Level Political Forum in July represents another opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the SDGs, including SDG7. In this regard, I note its theme, "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development."
I congratulate the multi-stakeholder SDG7 Technical Advisory Group, convened by DESA, for successfully delivering this third edition of the SDG7 Policy Briefs, in support of this year’s discussions at HLPF.
I thank Ms. Sheila Oparaocha and Mr. Hans Olav Ibrekk, Co- Facilitators of the Group for their effective leadership.
The main message is clear: We must step up.
Although the world continues to advance toward SDG7, its efforts are falling well short of the scale required to reach these targets by 2030. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries need to safeguard past gains, and invest in even larger efforts in a post pandemic world. The report highlights COVID-19 implications on SDG7 progress, and how to accelerate SDG7 progress in these uncertain times.
It also provides practical analysis on:
• the interlinkages between energy and the five other thematic topics of this year’s HLPF,• on ways to raise sustainable energy ambition through enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions, and• challenges and opportunities at the regional levels, including a dedicated policy brief on advancing SDG7 in Least Developed Countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Together, the SDG7 Progress Report and the SDG7 Policy Briefs provide a strong basis for determining what needs to be done to scale up and accelerate progress on SDG7, between now and 2030.
UN DESA will continue to support the work of the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group and the SDG7 Energy Progress Report.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The current crisis is an unprecedented wake-up call. We need to turn the recovery efforts into an opportunity to build back better.
SDG7 is key to this global vision.As mandated by the GA resolution 74/225, a High-level Dialogue on Energy will be convened in 2021 by the Secretary-General to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, under the auspices of the General Assembly.
As the Dialogue Secretary-General, I look forward to working closely with Member States and all other stakeholders leading up to this Dialogue.
I wish today’s Global Launch a great success.
Thank you for your attention.
It gives me great pleasure to launch the 2020 edition of the “SDG7 Policy Briefs: Accelerating SDG 7 in the time of COVID-19.”
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Energy – the Permanent Representatives of Denmark, Ethiopia, Norway and Pakistan, for their collaboration to host this year’s global launch.
Please also allow me to congratulate the SDG7 indicator custodians for this year’s SDG7 Energy Progress Report, being launched today. I wish to commend the leadership of Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, as chair for this year’s report.Ladies and gentlemen,
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been both immediate and appalling, and represents the biggest shock to the global energy system in decades. It has caused tremendous uncertainty in our collective efforts toward SDG7 achievement.
Yet, over the long term, climate change remains the biggest threat to humanity. Should the pandemic slow the clean energy transition, it will severely jeopardize our fight against climate change.
Equally importantly, without ensuring universal energy access, the 2030 Agenda will be in jeopardy, since energy is strongly linked with many SDGs.
Accelerating energy decarbonization with universal access is a critical means for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. This is also emphasized by the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019.Ladies and gentlemen,
The forthcoming High-Level Political Forum in July represents another opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the SDGs, including SDG7. In this regard, I note its theme, "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development."
I congratulate the multi-stakeholder SDG7 Technical Advisory Group, convened by DESA, for successfully delivering this third edition of the SDG7 Policy Briefs, in support of this year’s discussions at HLPF.
I thank Ms. Sheila Oparaocha and Mr. Hans Olav Ibrekk, Co- Facilitators of the Group for their effective leadership.
The main message is clear: We must step up.
Although the world continues to advance toward SDG7, its efforts are falling well short of the scale required to reach these targets by 2030. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries need to safeguard past gains, and invest in even larger efforts in a post pandemic world. The report highlights COVID-19 implications on SDG7 progress, and how to accelerate SDG7 progress in these uncertain times.
It also provides practical analysis on:
• the interlinkages between energy and the five other thematic topics of this year’s HLPF,• on ways to raise sustainable energy ambition through enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions, and• challenges and opportunities at the regional levels, including a dedicated policy brief on advancing SDG7 in Least Developed Countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Together, the SDG7 Progress Report and the SDG7 Policy Briefs provide a strong basis for determining what needs to be done to scale up and accelerate progress on SDG7, between now and 2030.
UN DESA will continue to support the work of the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group and the SDG7 Energy Progress Report.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The current crisis is an unprecedented wake-up call. We need to turn the recovery efforts into an opportunity to build back better.
SDG7 is key to this global vision.As mandated by the GA resolution 74/225, a High-level Dialogue on Energy will be convened in 2021 by the Secretary-General to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, under the auspices of the General Assembly.
As the Dialogue Secretary-General, I look forward to working closely with Member States and all other stakeholders leading up to this Dialogue.
I wish today’s Global Launch a great success.
Thank you for your attention.
File date:
Thursday, June 4, 2020