Secretary-General Urges Leaders, Experts at Singapore International Event to Promote Efforts Towards Carbon-Free Energy Systems

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Singapore International Energy Week, in Singapore today:

Every year, Singapore International Energy Week brings together thousands of delegates from around the world to exchange ideas and enhance international cooperation on energy issues.  It is a moment for leaders and energy experts to discuss and share experiences, lessons learned and technology innovations on energy.

Last month at the United Nations, world leaders adopted the universal, ambitious and visionary 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  It is a road map to end global poverty and help build a life of dignity for all.

The Agenda — which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — enshrines the important role of sustainable energy for societies, economies and people’s well-being.  SDG 7 calls for “ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all” by 2030.

The Agenda also recognizes the close links between the energy goals and achieving the other SDGs.  The theme for the 2015 Singapore International Energy Week “Global Energy Transitions” is thus very timely.  It also provides the opportunity to reflect on the major volatility in oil prices and the critical importance of alternative energy options.

Your event also comes less than two months before Governments gather in Paris to forge a collective global response to climate change, one that can put the world on the pathway for a less than 2°C temperature rise.  This will require the rapid decarbonization of the world’s energy systems well before the end of the century.  I encourage you to promote actions and international cooperation that makes this transformation not only possible, but achievable and beneficial for all societies.  For my part, I am committed to continue to extend my full support to Member States, including through my Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

I wish you very fruitful discussions and a successful event.