UNGA79 and the Global Initiatives to End Energy Poverty

On the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) hosted the ‘Raising Ambition on SDG7’ event together with partners Africa50 and Enel Corporation, focusing on global support towards an energy transition that ends energy poverty, combats climate change and powers livelihoods.

The event showcased proven solutions to deliver progress on a just and equitable energy transition, with two important global initiatives focused on mobilising finance and distributed renewable energy solutions as key levers to ending energy poverty and ensuring emerging and developing countries are equipped to transition their energy systems in a just and equitable manner, being unveiled.

This event, which saw key leaders including Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations; H.E. Birame Soulèye Diop, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Oil and Mines; Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment; and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy; among others, calling on global leaders to increase the scale and ambition of sustainable energy investments and projects.

Ambassador Corrêa do Lago also announced the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados taking place from 12 – 13 March 2025 as the first official milestone on the road to COP30.

Simultaneously, the strategic role of Energy Compacts in advancing global energy transitions, particularly the Brazilian Government’s efforts to establish voluntary principles for a just and equitable energy transition, encouraging governments and non-state actors to turn these principles into tangible action, was highlighted.

The principles will be captured in the G20 Just Energy Transition Compact, which is led by Brazil and the G20, with the support of SEforALL, marking a critical step toward a sustainable, inclusive energy transition.

To close energy access gaps in underserved regions, the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s bold partnership to bring electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, was highlighted.

SEforALL is one of three implementing partners in this effort, dubbed Mission 300, that will deploy targeted investments and scalable energy solutions where they are most needed.

In addition, the event looked at solutions to bridge energy access gaps that go beyond traditional power grids.

Practical ways to scale-up distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems, through innovative public-private collaborations and financial frameworks that help crowd in private capital from various pools of investors and financiers.

The focus will remain on Africa next week as SEforALL co-hosts the G20-Africa Ministerial on 3rd October aimed at fostering stronger ties between the G20 and Africa, with a shared goal of securing financing to support a just and equitable energy transition across the African continent.