Side-Eventof the 2023 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Convenedin New York
NewYork, NY - ( NewMediaWire ) - July 17, 2023 - The Side-Event of the UNHigh-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development: Jointly Build aZero-Carbon Energy System to Further Advance the UN 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment was held at the UN Headquarters in New York on July 13, local time.This event was jointly hosted by the Global Energy Interconnection Developmentand Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), the Latin American Energy Organization(OLADE), the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and theCouncil of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET). Liu Zehong, Executive ViceChairman of GEIDCO, made a video speech.
Thisevent was attended and addressed by Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General; DaiBing, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of China to the UN; Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UNUnder-Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic andSocial Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP); Rola Dashti, UNUnder-Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic andSocial Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA); Michal Mlynár, Deputy ExecutiveDirector of United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat); ObethMbuipaha Kandjoze, Director General of the National Planning Commission andMinister of Economic Planning of Namibia; Mourad Wahba, Officer in Charge, UNCapital Development Fund (UNCDF); and Ligia Noronha, UN AssistantSecretary-General and Head of the UNEP New York Office. Video speeches weregiven by Jeffrey Sachs, President of SDSN; Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-Generaland CEO, United Nations Global Compact; and Andrés Rebolledo, ExecutiveSecretary of OLADE. This event was chaired by Cheng Zhiqiang, ExecutiveSecretary for Cooperation of GEIDCO.
LiuZehong highlighted that in September 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinpingproposed the Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) initiative during the UNSustainable Development Summit. This visionary proposal offered a Chinesesolution to facilitate global energy transition and promote sustainabledevelopment. He introduced that GEI embodies a modern energy systemcharacterized by a dominant presence of clean energy, an emphasis onelectricity, and extensive interconnectivity. This transformative system playsa crucial role as a catalyst for a secure, cost-effective, and efficient energytransition, and an enabler for sustainable development. The development of GEIexpedites the transition to clean and low-carbon energy, propellinginfrastructure upgrades and fostering high-quality economic development.Moreover, it contributes to safeguarding the ecological environment,alleviating poverty and hunger, and reducing regional development disparities.These efforts pave the way for a new global paradigm characterized by green andlow-carbon development, peace and harmony, and shared prosperity. GEI providesa holistic, systematic, and widely applicable solution for realizing the 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development.
LiJunhua emphasized the significant role of the GEI Initiative in promotingglobal infrastructure and clean energy development. He highlighted that itwould contribute to advancing global energy transformation, addressing climatechange, and resolving existing challenges. Dai Bing commended China’scommitment to green and low-carbon development, its proactive stance on climatechange, and its leadership in global energy governance. He said that China iswill to collaborate with all parties to ensure stability and uninterruptedsupply in the international energy market. Furthermore, China aims to expeditesustainable energy development through initiatives such as the green Belt andRoad and the Global Development Initiative (GDI).
ArmidaSalsiah Alisjahbana stressed the importance of accelerating energytransformation and establishing a zero-carbon system for economic developmentin the Asia-Pacific region. She noted that regional power grid interconnectionenjoys broad support among member countries, as it facilitates cooperation,political consensus, and sustainable development. Rola Dashti highlighted thesignificance of advancing energy interconnection in the Arab world. Thisinitiative would greatly promote renewable energy development, alleviate powersupply issues in West Asian and neighboring countries, and contribute toachieving global carbon neutrality. The United Nations Economic and SocialCommission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) looked forwards to establishing long-termcooperative relations with GEIDCO.
MichalMlynár emphasized that the GEI would enable countries to fully leveragerenewable energy, reduce power supply costs, and enhance social and nationalstability. He expressed hope that countries would promote power gridinterconnection and collaborate with GEIDCO to provide innovative solutions forcombating climate change, promoting environmental protection, and buildingsustainable cities and human settlements. Jeffrey Sachs stated that theresearch report Towards Sustainable Development released by GEIDCO shows theleading and driving role of energy transformation from multiple dimensions suchas energy, economy, society and environment, and provides a road map for globalenterprises to accelerate clean transformation.
ObethMbuipaha Kandjoze described the GEI as a modern energy system that willfacilitate the realization of a low-carbon, green, and sustainable energyeconomy and society. He viewed the report released by GEIDCO as an innovativesolution for achieving clean energy transformation, reducing environmentalpollution, and promoting sustainable development. Mourad Wahba expressedconcern over the severe power shortage in many underdeveloped countries andregions, which significantly hampers local living standards and socialprogress. He expressed the desire to collaborate with GEIDCO to stimulateeconomic growth and improve societal well-being.
SandaOjiambo acknowledged the escalating severity of global challenges such asclimate change, environmental pollution, and resource constraints. Sheemphasized the urgency of accelerating actions without delay, as thesechallenges seriously threaten humanity’s survival and development. The UNGlobal Compact expressed its eagerness to deepen cooperation with GEIDCO inorder to achieve the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment. Ligia Noronha emphasized the increasingly critical issue ofclimate change facing the world. She called for extensive internationalcooperation to accelerate energy transition and establish a zero-carbon energysystem, ultimately achieving sustainable development. Andrés Rebolledo praisedthe pivotal role played by GEIDCO in achieving SDG 7 and net-zero emissions,and believed that the release of Towards Sustainable Development provides acomplete set of solutions for achieving carbon neutrality globally andregionally, which will make a major contribution to the global effort toaddress the climate crisis and energy transition.
ThePanel Discussion, moderated by Gloria Alvarenga, Acting Director of EnergyIntegration, Access, and Security at OLADE, featured a number of key speakers.Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Director and Executive Coordinator of Nature, Climate,and Energy at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Raf Tuts,Director of the Global Solutions Division at UN-Habitat, Nassim Oulmane, Chiefof the Green and Blue Economy Section at the United Nations Economic Commissionfor Africa (UNECA), Philip Moeller, Executive Vice President of the EdisonElectric Institute (EEI), and Semida Silveira and Jaideep Sandhu,representatives of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, allshared their insights.
Theyemphasized that the current state of human sustainability is under threat fromsignificant economic, social, and environmental challenges. Of particularconcern is the intensifying severity of climate change and environmentalissues, which have evolved into a global crisis demanding urgent attention andresolution. Accelerating clean energy development and power interconnection viaGEI, will be instrumental in achieving green, low-carbon, and sustainabledevelopment. These efforts are vital in addressing the crisis effectively andensuring a secure future for humanity.
At theevent, GEIDCO released the Global Energy Interconnection - Pathway Towards 2030Sustainable Development. This report points out that, at present, the extensivedevelopment and use of fossil energy have resulted in resources, climate,environmental and health problems, which are significant obstacles to achievingsustainable development. Further, there is an immediate need to accelerate thegreen and low-carbon energy transition. GEI will generate nine benefits:accelerating clean energy development, expanding grid interconnection,enhancing electrification, securing power supply, reducing pollution emissions,promoting technological innovation, facilitating industrial upgrading,increasing investment and trade, and building a cooperation platform. Thesebenefits will comprehensively align with the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda, play akey role in realizing SDGs 7, 8 and 13, and provide crucial support for realizingten goals, including SDGs 1, 3 and 6.
Thereport puts forward Ten Actions and Six Mechanisms for implementing the 2030Agenda, providing global solutions and practical paths for advancingsustainable development. The Ten Actions include 6 constructive actions: cleandevelopment, power grid interconnection, universal access to electricity,electricity replacement, smart grid, and energy efficiency improvement, and 4supportive actions: concept promotion, innovation-driven, capacity building,and policy support. The Six Mechanisms include global power grid planning,power engineering project, integrated electricity-carbon trade, interconnectedpower grid coordination, energy development assistance, and collaboration intechnical standards.
Theevent also put forward the Jointly Build a Zero-Carbon Energy System to FurtherAdvance Sustainable Development Initiative. It proposes that all parties shouldcommit to promoting green development and building consensus on energytransition, prioritize openness and cooperation in building a zero-carbonenergy system, pursue innovation-driven development to speed up the scientificand technological revolution in energy, and ensure universal accessibility forthe common development of mankind.
Morethan 60 participants were present at the event, representing the United NationsDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the Secretariat of theConvention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the World MeteorologicalOrganization (WMO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO), UNDP, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),CEET, and SDSN.
