[Video Message]
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to address you at the International Forum for Clean Energy.
We are at a critical moment in human history, confronted by multiple challenges that demand our collective action and resolve, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development guiding us towards a brighter future.
However, our progress is falling short of our goals.
Energy is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Clean energy is vital for human development, powering economies, providing essential services, and safeguarding our planet.
To achieve the SDGs and to secure an inclusive and resilient future, we must accelerate a just and equitable transition to clean energy worldwide.
While renewable electricity generation is growing strongly, progress in the heat and transport sectors remains slow.
Benefits are not shared equitably, with 685 million people lacking access to electricity, and over two billion people continue to rely on harmful cooking fuels.
Addressing these issues requires bold leadership, innovative solutions, sustained investments in sustainable infrastructure, and enhanced international cooperation.
UN DESA is committed to supporting SDG7 achievement.
Universal access to sustainable energy and a just energy transition towards net zero by 2050 remain our top priorities.
We will continue uniting the global community together for common solutions and support Member States. This includes supporting the implementation of the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG7 Action, the UN Decade for Sustainable Energy for all.
In closing, I emphasize the importance of coherent and synergistic approaches.
Together, let us work further to support a just transition to clean energy, realizing a sustainable, prosperous future that is equitable, resilient, and inclusive, leaving no one behind.
Thank you.