Secretary-General, at Summit High-Level Event, Describes Energy Poverty

 

as Obstacle to Millennium Development Goals

 

Following are United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the Millennium Development Goals Summit High-Level Event “Towards Universal Energy Access”, in New York today, 21 September:

I am pleased to be with you.

Universal energy access is a key priority on the global development agenda.  It is a foundation for all the Millennium Development Goals.

Today, more than 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity.  Many more have inadequate or intermittent access.  This slows economic growth and hampers poverty eradication.  It affects children’s education.  And it affects the full spectrum of health service delivery.  Clinics and hospitals require energy.  Delivering clean water and sanitation requires energy.  Storing food and medicines requires energy.

Without energy services, the poor are cut off from basic amenities.  They are forced to live and work in unhealthy, polluted conditions.  Furthermore, energy poverty directly affects the viability of forests, soils and rangelands.  In short, it is an obstacle to the Millennium Development Goals.

The barriers to energy access do not lie in the domain of technology.  Yes, we need better technology.  Yes, we need more money for research and development.   Yes, we must do better at transferring technologies to developing countries so they can bypass business as usual and go straight to low-carbon growth.

But, by and large, we already have the means to meet the needs of the poor.  The real barriers stem from a lack of broad-based political will and commitment.  Let us build commitment this week.

My Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change has set a target of universal energy access and doubling the rate of increase of energy efficiency by 2030.  This is important for the Millennium Development Goals and for reducing the threat of climate change.  I urge countries to work together — along with the UN-Energy programme — to create energy access initiatives.

We need dedicated funding sources, technology-sharing, mechanisms for sharing lessons and best practices at a global level.  And we need a wider range of stakeholders to get involved — broad-based partnerships between the United Nations, Governments, the private sector and the scientific community.  In particular, Governments need to create a stable and predictable policy platform for the private sector to invest in low-carbon technologies and provide affordable energy to the rural poor.

Let us build on promising new partnerships.  The United Nations Foundation is supporting a UN global campaign for universal energy access.  Today I ask you to consider how your Governments can get involved.

Let this forum generate renewed commitment to universal energy access.  Let us truly give “power to the people”.

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For information media • not an official record