[As Delivered]

Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-chair of UN-Energy,
Excellencies,
Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank you all most sincerely for joining today’s Global Stocktake, marking the completion of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All.
Allow me to acknowledge, with thanks, the vital support extended to my office from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well as UN Energy, in preparing for this event.
And let me also warmly welcome our invited speakers – the scene-setters and Ministerial Respondents – who will share their rich perspectives as we reflect on the Decade, as a basis for helping us chart our path forward.

Excellencies,
The Decade of Sustainable Energy for All was launched in 2014 with ambitious yet achievable objectives – to usher in a future where everyone, everywhere, benefits equally from the innovations and potential of sustainable energy.
The General Assembly Declared the Decade, fully understanding that sustainable energy is a precursor to nearly every one of our development aims and the SDGs – from eradicating poverty and building sustainable cities and communities, to responsible consumption and production.
But as the Decade draws to a close, we must acknowledge that the results of our efforts have been mixed; creating both profound achievements and discernible shortcomings.
On the positive side, since 2014, the principle of sustainable energy for all has become ensconced within the Sustainable Development Goals; elevated to the top of the climate agenda via the Paris Agreement; and adopted as a priority by political and business leaders alike.
The result – a world that has wholly embraced the need for, and potential of, sustainable energy.
And the numbers speak for themselves:
• The share of renewables-based energy capacity in developing countries has grown in the last decade, reaching 38% in 2021.
• Developing countries experience on average 9.6 per cent annual growth in renewable energy installation.
• The global population with access to electricity has increased from 87 per cent to 91 per cent since 2015.
• And, in 2021, 71% of the global population had access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, up from 64% in 2015.
These numbers are a clear testament to our determined efforts to empower people everywhere – while making strides in protecting the environment.
Yet, the pace of energy transformations is still much too slow – and the benefits are not shared equitably.
• 473 million people in least developed countries alone remain without electricity.
• a further 2 billion people continue to rely upon harmful fuels to meet their energy needs.
• And the consumption of energy remains the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Considering the foregoing, business as usual cannot be a credible option.
We must take urgent action to implement the outcomes in the political declaration issued by the 2023 SDGs Summit. To do so, we must truly deliver to all people, universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, while substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030.
We must also capitalize on the momentum afforded by COP28 to pursue a tripling of renewable energy capacity globally and a doubling of the global average annual rate of energy efficient improvements.
Most importantly, we must rectify the stark moral failure evident in the fact that billions still live without adequate energy, or any energy at all, while others are reportedly planning lunar vacations being offered commercially.
So, how do we do this?
First, we need to put money behind our intentions. This means addressing the concerning reality that investment in clean energy infrastructure continues to decline, all the while needs are going up – and this is especially important given that at least US$ 35 billion annually is needed to reach universal electricity access by 2030.

[cont.]

* *** *

To read the PGA's speech in its entirety, please visit: [ Ссылка ]
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@UNPGA78
X (Twitter): www.twitter.com/UN_PGA
Instagram: www.instagram.com/unpga
LinkedIn: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть