Momentum is building for the first annual Sustainable Energy for All Forum at United Nations headquarters in New York on June 4-6.
The event is expected to attract more than a thousand leaders, experts and energy practitioners from government, business, international organizations and civil society groups to review progress and share innovative solutions.
Kandeh Yumkella, the special representative of the UN secretary-general and chief executive of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, said: “The forum is shaping up to be a major stepping stone, where we can collectively assess the results of our commitments, spur new efforts and together chart a way forward to achieve our objectives.”
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon launched the SE4ALL initiative in 2011 with three objectives: ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030.
In promoting sustainable energy solutions, the Forum hopes to help build towards the UN Climate Change Summit in September, which will focus on solutions to climate challenges.
“Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity and a healthy environment. Sustainable development is not possible without sustainable energy,” said Mr Ban Ki-moon.