[Video Message]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a privilege to address this important International Atomic Energy Agency ministerial meeting on nuclear science, technology, and applications, and the Technical Cooperation Programme.
We are at a critical time for our global development agenda.
With most of the SDGs off-track, the urgency of our task cannot be overstated.
The fragile progress made in recent years has been compounded by the climate crisis, conflicts, and economic uncertainty.
Global temperatures have already risen by nearly 1.2 degrees since pre-industrial times. Current policies are leading us toward a catastrophic 3.1-degree rise by the end of the century.
We need dramatic action to reduce emissions and address challenges. Achieving SDG7 on energy is critical in these efforts.
Let me highlight three immediate tasks.
First, we must achieve universal access to electricity and clean cooking solutions everywhere in the world.
Second, we must ensure an energy transition that is just, inclusive, and equitable, leaving no one behind.
Tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency, as agreed at COP28 in UAE, are essential steps forward.
Nuclear technologies have the potential to support sustainable development and climate goals, if they are used safely, cost-effectively, and peacefully within national and regional contexts.
Third, we need unprecedented investment. We must triple global energy investments to achieve SDG7 and accelerate just energy transition.
Realizing the SDGs and fighting climate change will require trillions of dollars every year.
Next year, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain gives us a critical moment to unlock the financing needed to realize the SDGs and drive climate action.
We must leverage the momentum built by the Pact for the Future to help create the fiscal space that countries need.
As the Secretariat of UN-Energy, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs is committed to strengthening its cooperation with all UN-Energy members, including the IAEA.
Together, we must strive to achieve the SDGs and create a more equitable and resilient future for all.
Thank you.