Achieving Sustainable Future Requires More Action by Industry to Bring Public, Private Sectors Together, Secretary-General Tells World Energy Congress

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the World Energy Congress, in Istanbul, Turkey, today:

Thank you for coming together for this World Energy Congress in Istanbul.

Last year, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.  A transformative approach to energy is critical to success.

Achieving our energy goals — including universal access, energy efficiency and renewable energy — will open a new world of opportunity and investment.

The World Energy Congress is one of the preeminent platforms for action.  I commend the World Energy Council for helping shape the sustainability narrative through the “Energy Trilemma” concept.

Three years ago, in a message to the World Energy Congress in Daegu, I called for your urgent action to bring the public and private sectors together to advance our collective efforts.  Today, I urge you to intensify that great work towards a sustainable energy future for the greatest benefit of all.