Secretary-General Salutes South-South Development Expo, Says Renewable, Cleaner

Energy Can Help Revitalize Economies, Strengthen Social Equity

 

The following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Fifth Global South Development Expo, in Vienna on 19 November:

I am pleased to convey my greetings to the Fifth Annual Global South-South Development Expo graciously hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and organized by the Expo Secretariat based in the newly renamed United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

The theme for this year’s Expo, “Investing in Energy and Climate Change:  Inclusive Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, highlights the role that renewable and cleaner energy solutions and climate change mitigation and adaptation can and must play in revitalizing economies and strengthening social equity.

Now more than ever, the world needs to ensure that the benefits of sustainable modern energy services are available to all.  This is why I launched the “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative, which aims to achieve universal access, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, all by 2030.

More than 60 developing countries are working with the initiative, and others are coming on board.  Some 150 actions and commitments have been made in support the three core objectives — including some that build on South-South cooperation, for example through joint efforts by small island developing States and Latin American investments in African infrastructure.

This Expo highlights successful development solutions, as well as the efforts of the UN system to generate momentum toward sustainable development.  As we strive to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and shape a new development agenda beyond 2015, international cooperation for development — particularly South-South and triangular partnerships — will be critical in building a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

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For information media • not an official record