Access to clean energy by 2030 possible if countries increase investments: UN

Everyone in the world could have access to clean affordable energy within the next nine years if countries modestly increase investments according to new UN reports released in advance of a major ministerial meeting on June 2125 where countries and businesses will begin to announce energy plans for the decade Annual investments of around 35 billion could bring electricity access for 759 million people who currently lack it and 25 billion a year can help 26 billion people gain access to clean cooking between now and 2030 The required investment represents only a small fraction of the multitrilliondollar global energy investment needed overall but would bring huge benefits to onethird of the worlds population The recommendations on energy access are part of a proposed global roadmap with concrete actions to achieve clean affordable energy for all by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050 launched by the United Nations on Friday to set the groundwork for a largescale mobilisation of commitments this year National and city governments foundations and businesses are expected to start announcing significant commitments in the form of Energy Compacts at Ministerial Forums to be held June 2125 driving action towards Highlevel Dialogue on Energy a summit to be convened by the UN in September Major energy compact commitments and partnerships for clean electricity access and cooking solutions are among those expected to be announced during the June Forums which are cohosted by thirty Global Champion countries The ambitious energy compacts being put forward by countries businesses cities and many other partners are a spark of hope for achieving a just transition towards sustainable energy and for improving the lives of millions of people in the process said Dialogue SecretaryGeneral Liu Zhenmin UN undersecretarygeneral for Economic and Social Affairs But this is only the beginning and we need much more commitment and concrete action at this years Highlevel Dialogue on Energy to get where we need to be by 2030 The proposed roadmap which will inform the Highlevel Dialogue on Energy in September and be considered in the political statement resulting from the summit is based on reports submitted by five Technical Working Groups that have brought together over 160 experts since March coled by 16 UN and international organisations grouped by thematic focus The five focus areas are energy access energy transition enabling the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs through inclusive just energy transitions innovation technology and data and finance and investment In order to achieve the SDGs and Paris Agreement targets energy transition must become a transformational effort a system overhaul the proposed roadmap suggests The reports recommend a rapid scaleup of available solutions to reach 8000 GW of renewables by 2030 from 2800 GW currently and to increase the average annual rate of energy efficiency improvement from the current 08 to 3 per cent By 2025 100 countries should establish targets for 100 per cent renewablebased power and there should be no new coal plants in the pipeline globally The share of fossil fuels in the global mix would fall from the current 60 per cent to 30 per cent by 2030 The proposed roadmap also calls for countries to phase out coal by 2030 in wealthier countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD and by 2040 in nonOECD countries recognising that many developing countries will need support for this process By 2050 92 per cent of power would come from renewable technologies The energy revolution is underway but 759 million people still live without electricity and the opportunities it provides said Achim Steiner administrator of the UN Development Programme and cochair of the Highlevel Dialogue It is one of the most blatant examples of inequality in our world today Affordable clean energy access for all is the foundation for achieving a global energy transition that is fast and fair At the upcoming Ministerial Forums we will see bold commitments put forward as Energy Compacts as well as large financial commitments from partner institutions and we need more of them to ensure we leave no one behind and that we transition in a just and inclusive manner to net zero by 2050 said his cochair Damilola Ogunbiyi Special Representative of the UN SecretaryGeneral on Sustainable Energy for All This is an opportunity of our lifetime to provide universal energy access by leveraging new partnerships and technologies and funding innovations that can create a cleaner brighter and more equitable economic future The reports indicate that a just and inclusive energy transition can create 30 million new jobs in sustainable energy by 2030 and 42 million by 2050 They call for ensuring gender equality in all aspects of energy transition including more women taking on roles as engineers policymakers and entrepreneursAlso Read How four Mumbai thrifters gave up fast fashion 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