Secretary-General, in Video Message, Urges World Energy Congress to Lead

by Example, Support Ambitious ‘But Achievable’ Initiative

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the World Energy Congress, in Daegu, Republic of Korea, to be held 13-17 October:

Prime Minister Jung Hong-won,

Mr. Pierre Gadonneix, Chair of the World Energy Congress and incoming Chair, Ms. Marie-José Nadeau,

Mr. Hwan-Eik Cho, Chair of the Congress Organising Committee,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I am pleased to send greetings to the twenty-second World Energy Congress.

I thank Prime Minister Jung Hong-won, honorary chair of the Organising Committee, and the Government of Korea, for hosting.

No other energy gathering brings together such a wide range of actors.

Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, environmental health, social fairness and opportunity.

Clean, modern and affordable energy services are essential for sustainable development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Wasteful energy use is warming the planet.  Yet, at the same time, one person in five lacks access to electricity.

We need your ideas and influence to address the world’s unfair energy gap and the threat of climate change.

My “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative promotes a clean energy transformation and low-carbon growth.

We have three ambitious but achievable objectives to be realized by 2030.

First, to provide universal access to modern energy sources.

Second, to double the worldwide rate of energy efficiency improvement.

Third, to double the global share of renewable energy.

Achieving these goals will unlock opportunity for billions of people and generate massive business opportunities.

The “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative is combining the efforts of Governments, civil society and the private sector.

This Congress is among the preeminent platforms for business action.

You are here because you see the big picture.

I count on you to support “Sustainable Energy for All”.

I ask you to lead by example in securing tomorrow’s energy today.

I wish you a productive meeting.

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For information media • not an official record