Ban calls for global clean energy revolution

U.N. secretary-general also addresses climate, poverty and health


ABU DHABI ― Global innovation in clean energy is essential to fight climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday at the 2011 World Future Energy Summit.

“The prevailing fossil fuel-economy is contributing to climate change and global energy needs are growing rapidly,” he said during his keynote speech at the event, which runs through Thursday.

“Our challenge is transformation. We need a global clean energy revolution ― a revolution that makes energy available and affordable for all.”

Ban stressed the significance of clean energy as rising demand will likely lead to higher energy prices. He projected that energy consumption will rise by 40 percent ― mostly in emerging economy countries ― in 20 years. 

“It is also imperative for the world to minimize climate risks, reduce poverty and improve global health, and meet the Millennium Development Goals for global economic growth, peace and security, and the health of the planet,” he said.

The U.N. Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in October adopted a set of global action plans to be achieved by 2015. The list includes new commitments for women’s and children’s health and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease.

The U.N. head applauded Abu Dhabi’s commitment to clean energy and hosting the WFES, which has become a premier forum on renewable and sustainable energy.

Alongside the exhibition at the summit, Ban looked around Masdar City, a planned project city outside of the United Arab Emirates’ capital. The city, which is expected to be completed by around 2025, is to sustain itself solely on renewable energy sources including solar power.

“Today I had the privilege of witnessing for myself the leadership of Abu Dhabi. … I truly commend and congratulate Abu Dhabi and the UAE for such a path-breaking initiative and I am confident the future technology can be shared with other countries as well.”

Ban also said the WFES and Masdar City could help give a new vision for sustainable development, which the U.N. has set as a major long-term agenda. The term, according to the U.N., refers to the integration of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in policy-making at international, regional and national levels.

He called for more private-public partnerships in the UAE as well as active participation of other nations for such initiatives.

Ban also addressed other peace and security challenges facing Muslim nations.

He urged Tunisia’s interim leaders to establish the rule of law in the country, expressing concerns over the violence which claimed tens of lives after the ousting of its president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

On the situation in Lebanon, Ban said no one should politicize the work of the U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of Lebanon’s former premier Rafiq Hariri.

“The independent judicial process should not be linked to any political debate. It is important not to prejudge the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

The WFES, largest of the kind in the world, is being hosted by Masdar, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s state-owned developer Mubadala Development. The event marking its 4th anniversary this year is taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.

By Koh Young-aah (youngaah@heraldcorp.com)

(Korea Herald correspondent)