H.E. Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
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Statement by State Secretary Tone Skogen
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be at the Research Council of Norway today.
Let me thank UN DESA, the Research Council, and SINTEF for organising this event.
I would also like to congratulate SINTEF on winning the 2016 UN DESA Energy Grant.
Sustainable energy is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
A transformative approach to energy is required.
We need:
o a rapid increase in energy productivity;
o an integrated approach that embraces centralised and decentralised solutions;
o increasing share of renewables in the energy mix; and
o development of institutions to manage our energy systems.
The energy transition must be a ‘just’ transition.
We must not leave anyone behind.
We can fulfil the Paris climate goals, achieve the 2030 Agenda and deliver prosperity and security for billions of people if we commit to action now.
The current pace of progress is not sufficient.
We are not moving fast enough to meet SDG 7.
Today, nearly one in every seven people lacks access to electricity.
Over three billion people do not have access to clean cooking.
We are not on track to double the share of renewable energy.
The call to action is clear - we need to scale up our efforts.
We need:
o increased financing;
o bolder policy commitments;
o and a willingness to embrace innovation and new technologies on a wider scale.
Let me give you a brief overview of the status of SDG 7 in Norway.
In our Voluntary National Review to the High-level Political Forum in 2016, we reported that:
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o the SDG 7 targets on energy have been achieved or are in line with national policies and goals;
o the share of renewable energy in Norway's total energy consumption, including transport, is around 69 %;
o almost 100 % of our electricity production is renewable; and
o stringent environmental regulations and carbon pricing through taxation and emission trading systems have reduced emissions of greenhouse gases in a cost-efficient way in many sectors of our economy.
Moreover, Norway has unique expertise and experience in the field of sustainable energy.
Those of you who attended the seminar in Trondheim earlier this week were able to witness this.
Sustainable energy is one of five key priority areas in our development cooperation.
The objective of Norwegian support is to achieve SDG 7 and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Norway allocates well over one billion NOK annually to sustainable energy in developing countries.
This includes support provided through the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries - Norfund.
A key strategy is to use ODA to trigger investments from the private sector and new commercial partners.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The 2018 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will provide an important opportunity to undertake the first in-depth review of SDG 7 and spur further action.
The review will build on:
o voluntary reviews by member states;
o a series of policy briefs on interlinkages between SDG 7 and other SDGs;
o the report of the Global Tracking Framework;
o multi-stakeholder preparatory meetings, such as this symposium and the Global SDG 7 Conference which will be held in China; and
o a particular focus on countries in special situation, such as small islands developing states.
We welcome the establishment of the Ad Hoc Informal Multi-stakeholder Technical Group of Advisers on SDG 7 which will guide our efforts.
Together, these initiatives by UN DESA will ensure that we get a comprehensive review of SDG 7 and its interlinkages with other SDGs.
Norway will support this process and the work of the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team.
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Through this support, we will seek to:
o strengthen the UN’s leadership role in measuring and reporting progress;
o ensure policy coherence; and
o coordination of efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
We need your leadership and your commitment to innovation, technology transfer and capacity building and partnerships.
By working together, we can bring about transformative change.
Thank you!
Statement by State Secretary Tone Skogen
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be at the Research Council of Norway today.
Let me thank UN DESA, the Research Council, and SINTEF for organising this event.
I would also like to congratulate SINTEF on winning the 2016 UN DESA Energy Grant.
Sustainable energy is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
A transformative approach to energy is required.
We need:
o a rapid increase in energy productivity;
o an integrated approach that embraces centralised and decentralised solutions;
o increasing share of renewables in the energy mix; and
o development of institutions to manage our energy systems.
The energy transition must be a ‘just’ transition.
We must not leave anyone behind.
We can fulfil the Paris climate goals, achieve the 2030 Agenda and deliver prosperity and security for billions of people if we commit to action now.
The current pace of progress is not sufficient.
We are not moving fast enough to meet SDG 7.
Today, nearly one in every seven people lacks access to electricity.
Over three billion people do not have access to clean cooking.
We are not on track to double the share of renewable energy.
The call to action is clear - we need to scale up our efforts.
We need:
o increased financing;
o bolder policy commitments;
o and a willingness to embrace innovation and new technologies on a wider scale.
Let me give you a brief overview of the status of SDG 7 in Norway.
In our Voluntary National Review to the High-level Political Forum in 2016, we reported that:
2 av 3
o the SDG 7 targets on energy have been achieved or are in line with national policies and goals;
o the share of renewable energy in Norway's total energy consumption, including transport, is around 69 %;
o almost 100 % of our electricity production is renewable; and
o stringent environmental regulations and carbon pricing through taxation and emission trading systems have reduced emissions of greenhouse gases in a cost-efficient way in many sectors of our economy.
Moreover, Norway has unique expertise and experience in the field of sustainable energy.
Those of you who attended the seminar in Trondheim earlier this week were able to witness this.
Sustainable energy is one of five key priority areas in our development cooperation.
The objective of Norwegian support is to achieve SDG 7 and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Norway allocates well over one billion NOK annually to sustainable energy in developing countries.
This includes support provided through the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries - Norfund.
A key strategy is to use ODA to trigger investments from the private sector and new commercial partners.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The 2018 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will provide an important opportunity to undertake the first in-depth review of SDG 7 and spur further action.
The review will build on:
o voluntary reviews by member states;
o a series of policy briefs on interlinkages between SDG 7 and other SDGs;
o the report of the Global Tracking Framework;
o multi-stakeholder preparatory meetings, such as this symposium and the Global SDG 7 Conference which will be held in China; and
o a particular focus on countries in special situation, such as small islands developing states.
We welcome the establishment of the Ad Hoc Informal Multi-stakeholder Technical Group of Advisers on SDG 7 which will guide our efforts.
Together, these initiatives by UN DESA will ensure that we get a comprehensive review of SDG 7 and its interlinkages with other SDGs.
Norway will support this process and the work of the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team.
3 av 3
Through this support, we will seek to:
o strengthen the UN’s leadership role in measuring and reporting progress;
o ensure policy coherence; and
o coordination of efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
We need your leadership and your commitment to innovation, technology transfer and capacity building and partnerships.
By working together, we can bring about transformative change.
Thank you!
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