Remarks at the HLPF Side Event: Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity and Accelerating Just Energy Transitions in the Global South

Dear Guests,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you to the HLPF special event entitled “Tripling Renewable Energy Potential and Accelerating a Just Energy Transition in the Global South”.

As we meet here today, on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum, we stand at a key moment in our global efforts to combat climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The outcome of the first Global Stocktake at COP28 reflects the urgency of our mission. We need large and immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions if we are to limit global warming to the agreed 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. This can only be done by rapidly transitioning to renewable and sustainable energy sources worldwide.

The COP 28 Global Declaration on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency highlights the key role of renewable energy sources in ensuring “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.

Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is essential to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, unlocking economic benefits, creating jobs and energy security. This transition requires international cooperation, innovation and investment.

We look forward to September, the 5th Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference in Rio de Janeiro will help strengthen the synergy between SDGs and climate action. This cross-cutting perspective will be key to building on the outcomes of the Future Summit to develop holistic solutions to our development challenges.

This will gain momentum with the upcoming COP 29 conference in Baku, which will provide an opportunity to address the financing gap, which is so crucial for emissions reductions, infrastructure resilience and the green transition.

These will be key issues as countries formulate their next national contributions under the Paris Agreement ahead of COP30, which will influence global emission reductions over the next decade.

As we embark on this journey, let us reaffirm our commitment to equity and justice, ensuring an inclusive energy transition that supports vulnerable communities, job creation and economic resilience.

Together, let us harness the transformative power of renewable energy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

Thank you. I look forward to inspiring discussions.