ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Energy Minister Zhandos Nurmaganbetov reaffirmed the country’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2060, as a Kazakh delegation attended an international cosmic summit in Abu Dhabi on January 14-15. The 13th session of the General Assembly of the Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), reports the Ministry’s press service.
Deputy Minister of Energy Zhandos Nurmaganbetov addressed the participants.Image source: Department of Energy Press Office
Organized by IRENA, the world’s leading intergovernmental body for energy transitions, the event was attended by representatives from 168 countries and moderated by IRENA Director General Francesco La Camera.
in a video Message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Ant to the participantsFromRenewable energy is the only sure path forward if the world is to avoid climate catastrophe, says Nio Guterres, outlining a five-point plan for a just transition.
“Only renewable energy can secure our future, close energy access gaps, stabilize prices and ensure energy security,” he said.
Guterres warned that the world remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels and that the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius is rapidly being achieved.
“Under current policies, global warming will reach 2.8 degrees by the end of the century. The consequences will be devastating. Some parts of our planet will be uninhabitable. For many, it’s a death sentence,” he said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at the IRENA General Assembly on January 14.Video address screenshot
Renewable energy currently accounts for nearly 30 percent of global electricity. Guterres said that must double to more than 60 percent by 2030 and more than 90 percent by mid-century.
Guterres called for the removal of intellectual property barriers so that key renewable technologies, including energy storage, can be considered global public goods.
Countries must also diversify and increase access to supply chains for raw materials and components for renewable technologies without damaging the environment, the UN chief said.
“This helps create millions of green jobs, especially for women and youth in developing countries,” Guterres said.
The UN secretary-general has urged policymakers to cut red tape, speed up approval of global sustainable projects and modernize power grids. He stressed the need to move away from fossil fuels to clean and affordable energy, adding that “we must support vulnerable groups affected by this transition.”
According to Guterres, public and private investment in renewable energy should triple to at least $4 trillion a year.
Noting that most of the investment in renewable energy is in developed countries, Guterres urged countries to work together to reduce the capital cost of renewable energy and ensure that funds go to those who need them most.
Addressing participants, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Energy Minister Zhandos Nurmaganbetov emphasized the country’s adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals and its obligations under the Paris Agreement. According to him, Kazakhstan, together with the international community, is paying close attention to the development of renewable energy sources.
During the high-level meeting with IRENA, the Kazakh delegation explored the possibility of holding a Central Asia seminar in Kazakhstan, committed to working together with neighboring countries to accelerate the energy transition and utilize the region’s abundant renewable resources.