Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
We are pleased to support the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group to focus on identifying possible actions for G20 members and others to support archipelagic and island countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goal7 (SDG7) on affordable and clean energy.
Universal energy access remains the most challenging target under Goal 7: We are not on track to achieve it, and energy access is the region’s Achilles heel.
Decisive action is required to bring clean energy to the 760 million people who currently live without electricity and for the 2.6 billion people still relying on harmful fuels for cooking, particularly for those in developing countries and countries in special situations such as the small island developing States.
When we look at the progress towards universal energy access and the broader energy transition in archipelagic countries, we see that we are at risk of leaving many of our islands behind.
They are often highly dependent on fossil fuels and are thus subject to price volatility and price shocks driven by forces well beyond their control, such as the compounding crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, and the war in Ukraine leading to global energy price shocks.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Please allow me now to outline of some important proposed actions:
Firstly, large, developed nations can support the establishment of enabling policy and regulatory environments. They should include supporting capacity development amongst regulators and utilities and working with existing intergovernmental organizations.
Next, international funding should prioritize the development of local capacity and the de-risking of energy investments to support the delivery of best-practice agile programmes for deploying technology with a focus on developing local capacity and entrepreneurship.
Thirdly, we recommend adoption of the Modern Energy Minimum of 1,000 kilowatt-hours per person per year and the implementation of international standards and labelling for clean cooking fuels and technologies.
Finally, I would like to suggest that G20 members assist in the setting of goals and the development of road maps to support the achievement of 100 per cent renewable electricity in small island countries by 2030.
I wish you all the best for your upcoming deliberations, and I am pleased to offer ESCAP’s continuous support in your ongoing work towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thank you very much.
