Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and UN Deputy-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivered some closing remarks a few minutes ago.
Mr. Lui said that he was encouraged by the willingness of Member States to make Sustainable Development Goal 7 (clean energy access for all by 2030) a reality. He added that, without civil society and youth we have no shot at achieving this goal, reports UN Nerws.
The Dialogue, he said, marks the start of a new phase, with all the main elements in place for a global roadmap towards reaching SDG7, and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Ms. Mohammed thanked those who are “leading by example” by submitting Energy Compacts, which she described as critical if we are to keep global temperatures rises to 1.5 degrees.
The response to economic recovery, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has, she said, been inadequate, and pushed millions into poverty. The commitments made today, she declared, represent a fight back.
Achieving net zero carbon emissions, continued the deputy UN chief, hinges on actions taken this decade, which needs to be one of massive renewable energy expansion, with people and planet at the heart of all our initiatives.
Summing up the commitments made throughout the day, Ms. Mohammed said that national governments committed to provide electricity to over 166 million people worldwide, and private companies pledged to reach just over 200 million people.
Governments also committed to install an additional 698 gigawatts of renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and renewables-based hydrogen, and businesses, notably power utilities, pledged to install an additional 823 GW, all by 2030.
“These are bold commitments” she said, “I invite you all to help make them a reality.”
That wraps up our coverage of today’s event, but the statements from senior government ministers around the world continues here.
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