UN secretary-general announces goal to find solutions for just energy transition

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said that the participants of the Leaders' Summit of the Small Islands Developing States on Climate Change are tasked with finding solutions to one of the world’s most pressing challenges – achieving a just energy transition.

Guterres made these remarks at the Leaders' Summit of the Small Islands Developing States on Climate Change, held in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on November 13, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He said that the renewable energy sector is rapidly evolving, and last year, for the first time, investments in renewable energy surpassed spending on fossil fuels.

"The demand for important resources required for the transition is expected to sharply increase, as governments have pledged to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and gradually phase out fossil fuels," he noted.

The secretary-general emphasised that for developing countries rich in these resources, this presents a tremendous opportunity for prosperity, poverty eradication, and sustainable development. 

"However, too often we witness a pursuit of profit and a scramble for resources where communities are exploited, rights are trampled upon, and the environment is destroyed. Developing countries find themselves at the bottom of the value chains, while others grow wealthy from their resources," he added.

COP29 is considered one of the largest and most prestigious climate conferences in the world. This year’s event in Baku, which will run until November 22, is being held in Azerbaijan for the first time. The country has signed a Host Country Agreement and other key documents with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, cementing its role as a leader in climate change discussions.

By Naila Huseynova