COP26 Virtual Roundtable on Clean Power Transition

A virtual roundtable attended by the UN Secretary General, COP President and Foreign Secretary, and representatives from countries that are key to the success of the Energy Transitions Council, which aims to accelerate the transition from coal to clean power. The focus was on the need to rapidly shift to green, affordable and resilient power systems, a priority of the COP26 Presidency, as well as the importance of a just transition and green job opportunities. Investors and multilateral development banks (MDBs) were also invited to talk about financing the clean power transition and the policy environment needed.

• Categories: Meetings & Events
• Video Length: 01:11:10
• Production Date: 11 January 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES
• Subject Topical: CLIMATE CHANGE; CORONAVIRUS DISEASE - COVID 19; DROUGHT; FLOODS; FOSSIL FUELS; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
• Geographic Subject: AFRICA
• MAMS Id: 2597972
• Parent Id: 2596727

Description

Building a global coalition for carbon neutrality by mid-century will be the UN’s “central objective”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told a conference on climate action on Monday.

“All countries need credible mid-term goals and plans that are aligned with this objective”, Guterres said, addressing the virtual COP26 Roundtable on Clean Power Transition. “To achieve net zero emissions by 2050, we need an urgent transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy”.

Painting a picture of some 789 million people across the developing world without access to electricity – three-quarters of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa – the top UN official called it “both an injustice and an impediment to sustainable development”.

He signaled “inclusivity and sustainability” as key to support African countries, while underscoring that all nations need to be able to provide access to clean and renewable energy that prevents “the dangerous heating of our planet”.

Mr. Guterres asked for a “strong commitment from all governments” to end fossil fuel subsidies, put a price on carbon, shift taxation from people to pollution, and end the construction of coal-fired power plants.

“And we need to see adequate international support so African economies and other developing countries’ economies can leapfrog polluting development and transition to a clean, sustainable energy pathway”, he added.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Guterres repeated his appeal to developed nations to fulfill their annual pledge for $100 billion dollars to support mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.

Pointing to vulnerabilities faced by Africa – from prolonged droughts in the Sahel and Horn of Africa to devastating floods in the continent’s south – he underscored “the vital importance of adaptation” as “a moral imperative”.

The UN chief said that while only 20 per cent of climate finance is earmarked for it, adaptation requires “equal attention and investment”.

“The forthcoming climate adaptation summit on 25 January is an opportunity to generate momentum in this much neglected area”, he added.

For further details please see SOURCE below.
UN NEWS