United Nations published this video item, entitled “Very First Int’l Day of Clean Energy (26 Jan) | United Nations Secretary-General” – below is their description.
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL- VIDEO MESSAGE TO THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLEAN ENERGY
26 January 2024
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Clean energy: for all…
Energy lies at the core of a double challenge: leaving no one behind and protecting the Planet. And clean energy is crucial to its solution.
In a world grappling with climate change, clean energy plays a vital role in reducing emissions, and can also benefit communities lacking access to reliable power sources. Still today, 675 million people live in the dark – 4 in 5 are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The connection between clean energy, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability is crucial in addressing issues faced by vulnerable communities worldwide.
For populations without clean energy access, the lack of reliable power hinders education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and many of these developing regions still rely heavily on polluting fossil fuels for their daily life, perpetuating poverty. If current trends continue, by 2030 one in four people will still use unsafe, unhealthy and inefficient cooking systems, such as burning wood or dung.
Although this situation has been improving, the world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. The General Assembly will hold a Global Stocktaking on SDG7 in April 2024 to assess progress and recommend solutions.
At the same time, improving energy efficiency is key. Using less energy for the same output – through more efficient technologies in the transport, building, lighting, and appliances sectors for instance: saves money, cuts down on carbon pollution, and helps ensure universal access to sustainable energy for all.
Learn More: https://www.un.org/en/observances/clean-energy-day
Remarks
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Clean energy is the gift that keeps giving:
It can purify polluted air;
Meet growing energy demand;
Secure supplies;
And connect billion of people to affordable power – helping to ensure electricity access to all by 2030.
That is all while saving money and saving the planet.
A fair, just, equitable, and urgent transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy is essential to avoid the worst of climate chaos and spur sustainable development.
So, I celebrate this first International Day of Clean Energy;
I applaud the work of the International Renewable Energy Agency;
And I welcome the call made by countries at COP28 to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
It is my firm belief that fossil fuel phase out is not only necessary, it is inevitable.
But we need governments to act, to accelerate the transition, with the biggest emitters leading the way.
That means unleashing a surge in climate finance – particularly, governments reforming the business model of multilateral development banks so that affordable finance flows.
It means countries creating new national climate plans by 2025 that map a fair and just transition to clean power.
And it means governments closing the door on the fossil fuel era – with justice and equity.
Our clean energy future is unstoppable.
Together, let’s bring it into being faster.
Thank you.
United Nations YouTube Channel
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