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UN PhotoUN / SAFEGUARDING ENERGY SUPPLY FLOW
STORY: UN / SAFEGUARDING ENERGY SUPPLY FLOW
TRT: 02:15
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 15 MAY 2026, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters
15 MAY 2026, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, meeting room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lok Bahadur Thapa, President, Economic and Social Council, United Nations:
“This is not only an energy challenge. It is a development challenge. It is a financing challenge. And above all, it is a test of our collective ability to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda.”
4. Wide shot, meeting room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lok Bahadur Thapa, President, Economic and Social Council, United Nations: “Global fuel prices are now estimated to be more than 100 per cent above the 2025 average, while jet fuel prices have risen sharply, disrupting aviation, tourism and the movement of goods worldwide.”
6. Wide shot, meeting room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lok Bahadur Thapa, President, Economic and Social Council, United Nations:
“The consequences are not only economic. They are also social and human. More than 32 million additional people are at risk of being pushed into poverty globally as a result of the combined shock of rising energy prices, higher food costs and weakening economic growth.”
8. Wide shot, meeting room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations:
“Energy and commodity markets must remain open, transparent and predictable, avoiding measures that could further disrupt supply.”
10. Wide shot, meeting room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations:
“Investing in resilient and sustainable energy systems is essential, including renewable energy, robust power grids, and decentralized solutions.”
12. Wide shot, meeting room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations:
“Strengthening international cooperation, including with international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and other stakeholders, is essential to deliver solutions at the scale and speed required.”
14. Wide shot, meeting room
A UN top official said, “This is not only an energy challenge. It is a development challenge. It is a financing challenge. And above all, it is a test of our collective ability to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda.”
Today (15 May) the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting “Safeguarding Energy and Supply Flows: Supporting Global Development Through International Cooperation” held at UNHQ in New York.
Presiding the meeting, ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa said, “Global fuel prices are now estimated to be more than 100 per cent above the 2025 average, while jet fuel prices have risen sharply, disrupting aviation, tourism and the movement of goods worldwide.”
He stressed, “The consequences are not only economic. They are also social and human. More than 32 million additional people are at risk of being pushed into poverty globally as a result of the combined shock of rising energy prices, higher food costs and weakening economic growth.”
Addressing the meeting on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said, “Energy and commodity markets must remain open, transparent and predictable, avoiding measures that could further disrupt supply.”
He also said, “Investing in resilient and sustainable energy systems is essential, including renewable energy, robust power grids, and decentralized solutions.”
He concluded, “Strengthening international cooperation, including with international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and other stakeholders, is essential to deliver solutions at the scale and speed required.”
Disruptions in global energy and supply systems, especially along key international trade and energy corridors, are having major impacts on trade, energy, food security, financial and sustainable development worldwide.
They have increased market instability, slowed global economic growth and set back progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Global GDP growth and trade are expected to contract, while inflation has increased, potentially reversing long-term trends of lower prices.
Developing countries and countries in special situations such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable.
The special meeting brought together representatives of Member States, the United Nations system, the international financial institutions (IFIs), civil society and the business sector to discuss policy options and measures that countries can take to address the development impacts, ease fiscal constraints and enhance socio-economic resilience.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore global spillover effects, with particular attention to impacts on developing countries.
