Addressing Energy Challenge Beyond Reach of Governments Alone; All Sectors of

Society Must be Engaged, Says Secretary-General at ‘Energy’ Event

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the opening of the “Energy for Development” event today, 28 April, in New York:

Thank you for being here today for the launch of the report of my Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change.

I would like to thank particularly Mr. [Kandeh K.] Yumkella for his kind introduction -- and for his work as Chair of this group.

I convened this group for one important reason:  we must urgently transform the global energy system.

The decisions we make today on our energy future will have far-reaching consequences -- for climate change, for development, for economic growth and global security.

Later this year, I will convene a summit to review progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and to form an action plan for the time that remains before the agreed 2015 deadline.

Among the many issues on the agenda, energy must be high among them.

As the title of today’s event emphasizes, we need energy for development.  Some 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity.  It affects their health.  It affects children’s education.  It keeps people trapped in poverty.

Reliable access to affordable energy is essential for economic growth and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.  Achieving the Goals also means putting the brakes on climate change.

We need to grow, but we need to grow green.  We need to provide affordable energy to all, and we need to stop the rise in greenhouse gas emissions.  It is a massive challenge, but -- as the Group’s report shows -- it can be done.

Let me emphasize:  we can provide access to basic modern energy services without significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The answer lies in scaling up renewable energy and other low-emissions technologies.  The answer lies in investing in energy efficiency -- the most cost-effective way of cutting energy intensity.

To achieve these objectives, countries need to create a predictable, long-term policy environment for investment.  We must dramatically increase private and public spending on research and development.  And we must rapidly increase funding for deploying green energy technologies.

We need a clean energy revolution -- in developing countries, where energy demand is rising rapidly, and in the developed world, where there are the greatest opportunities for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Addressing the energy challenge is beyond the reach of Governments alone.  We will need enhanced international cooperation and coordinated action within the United Nations system.  Institutional and human capacity will need to be developed or strengthened.  And all sectors of society will need to be engaged:  the private sector; civil society; international organizations; and the world of academia and research.  Only by working together can we solve the energy and climate challenge. 

Last year’s climate change conference in Copenhagen succeeded in advancing global efforts to address climate change.  But we still have a long way to go, especially on the issue of energy. 

For any global climate agreement to be effective and equitable it must address energy access for the poor.  This is essential for sustainable development.

It is with these issues in mind that I set up this Advisory Group last year.  I commend the Group’s work, and particularly the members of this Advisory Group for their active participation and valuable contributions and I also thank the United Nations [Foundation] for its strong support -- Senator Tim Wirth –- and once again thank Mr. Yumkella for your leadership.

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For information media • not an official record