'A New Energy Era is Taking Shape' - UN Deputy Secretary-General at the High-Level Political Forum

As we conclude today's Special Event, I would like to thank all our speakers and participants for such a detailed discussion. And a special thank you to the organizers – UN DESA in collaboration with UN-Energy and the Group of Friends of Sustainable Energy – for bringing this group together.

Throughout the discussions, one thing stood out: despite the extremely challenging operating environment the world is facing, SDG 7 stands out as a beacon of hope, and a powerful accelerator across the 2030 Agenda.

These crises – from energy insecurity to climate change – have strengthened the case for the renewables opportunity. The energy security crisis in the Gulf has created an opening to double down on renewable energy, cut geopolitical dependencies, and accelerate sustainable development.

The Secretary-General has made clear – and we have heard it echoed today – that the rapid expansion of renewable energy has made the clean energy transition not only feasible, but irreversible. 

And now a new energy era is taking shape as renewable energy has become the most competitive source of electricity on our planet.

I think we can all agree that we leave this meeting today with a clear to-do list.

Universal access to electricity, including clean cooking by 2030.

Tripling of renewables.

Finance at scale to get us there, especially for the most vulnerable. Accelerating a just transition, one that respects the rights and livelihoods of the communities who make it possible, and captures the value of critical energy transition minerals where they are mined.

Though we are clear on the 'what', today was really about the 'how'. We are better equipped than many realise.

We have a roadmap.

The Global Plan of Action for the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All sets out, in practical terms, how to accelerate between now and 2030 – and I encourage every Member State in this room to make it their own: to convene around it and build new partnerships through it.

We have a UN system gearing up behind it.

Take the Climate Promise: last year it brought together more than 30 UN entities – convened by Resident Coordinators and supported by UNDP's technical leadership – to help 107 countries prepare their NDCs.

The Secretary-General’s Climate Strategy calls for rapid diversification of energy grids to accelerate the transition and strengthen energy security for all.

That also means thinking beyond national grids. The ASEAN Power Grid shows the value of countries linking their systems, trading electricity across borders, and pooling power more flexibly.

The UN-Energy Work Programme, launched just this morning, will put the full weight of the UN – its expertise, and its convening power – at the service of countries, working through Resident Coordinators and Country Teams, and responding to national priorities with expertise on demand.

It strengthens what already works, from the UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals to the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition. My thanks go to the UN-Energy Co-Chairs and the Secretariat at DESA for their leadership.

We also have a proven platform for partnerships with the Energy Compacts.

One where governments, businesses, international organizations, and civil society pull in the same direction.

Here, I want to give a special shout out to Sustainable Energy for All. Damilola and her team have shown what champions of this agenda look like, and we are lucky to have them.

Excellencies,

The clean energy transition is no longer a distant promise. It is here, gathering pace, on our watch.

So, this is no moment to ease off.

It is the moment to press our foot down even harder on the pedal – to take everything we heard today and turn it into even greater momentum.

Thank you – for your engagement, your partnership, and your leadership.

I wish you every success for the rest of the High-Level Political Forum.

These remarks were delivered at the High-Level Political Forum Special Event on "Implementing the Global Plan of Action for the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to 2030".