By Faridat Salifu
As the world marks the first International Day of Clean Energy, the call for a rapid transition to sustainable energy has taken center stage.
This comes at a crucial time when 675 million people still lack access to electricity, and 2.3 billion people rely on solid fuels for cooking, leading to severe health impacts and environmental burdens, particularly for women and children in low and middle-income countries.
In his message to mark the Day on Friday, January 26, 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the transformative power of clean energy.
He stressed the importance of a fair and just transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy, citing its role in addressing energy demand, securing supplies, and connecting billions of people to affordable power while simultaneously saving money and the planet.
The Secretary-General also welcomed the recent commitment made by countries at COP28 to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, highlighting the necessity of a fossil fuel phase-out and the need for greater climate finance and new national climate plans by 2025 to facilitate the transition.
Achim Steiner, UN-Energy Co-Chair, echoed the commitment of UN-Energy members to supporting countries in a just and equitable transition to clean energy.
He emphasized the need for radical rethinking of the just energy transition for development, particularly in terms of access to finance for developing and emerging markets.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, urged governments, businesses, and organizations to utilize Energy Compacts to register or strengthen their energy commitments on the world stage.
The Energy Compacts have garnered over $1.3 trillion in voluntary commitments for investment and finance through 2030, demonstrating the potential for impactful change.
The international day was established by the UN General Assembly in recognition of the indispensable role of clean and affordable energy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
As the world prepares for key milestones, including the global stocktake in April and the Summit of the Future in September, UN-Energy emphasizes the urgent need for all countries and stakeholders to escalate their actions for a sustainable energy transition.