Issue 1
16 November 2020
The Secretary-General will convene a High-Level Dialogue on Energy in 2021
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 74/225, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will convene a High-level Dialogue on Energy at the summit level during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2021, in New York. The goal of the Dialogue is to raise ambition and accelerate action towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 7 on energy by catalyzing innovative solutions, investments, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Visit the website for the High-level Dialogue on Energy 2021 for further information.
Senior Leadership for the High-Level Dialogue on Energy announced
The Secretary-General, as the convener of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy, has designated senior leadership at the United Nations to serve in various functions for the Dialogue. Read more on the leadership arrangements for the High-level Dialogue on Energy 2021.
The Dialogue will focus on five broad themes to boost ambition and accelerate SDG 7 implementation
To promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Thematic Consultations will be held on the five themes: i) energy access, ii) energy transition, iii) energy action to advance other SDGs, iv) capacity building and data, and v) finance and investment. Each theme will be covered by Member State Global Theme Champions, a multi-stakeholder Technical Working Group, and a Ministerial-level Thematic Forum. Intensive efforts will be made to develop and mobilize voluntary commitments in the form of "Energy Compacts" from Member States and multi-stakeholders that will detail key outcomes, milestones, and implementation timelines with clear tracking frameworks towards 2030. The concept note for the High-Level Dialogue on Energy and the note on Thematic Consultations have been issued on the HLD Energy website.
The Second Member States Briefing on the High-Level Dialogue on Energy organized
On 11 November, the second Briefing to Member States on the High-Level Dialogue on Energy in 2021 took place, with the participation of about 100 ambassadors and senior officials from Member States. The briefing provided an opportunity for Member States to receive an update about the preparatory process and share their views, including on the role of Global Champions, Technical Working Groups and Thematic Forums. Read more about this briefing.
Revitalized UN-Energy to support the High-Level Dialogue on Energy
UN-Energy, the interagency coordination mechanism on energy within the UN system, will play a central role in providing technical support for the preparations of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy 2021, under the leadership of the UN-Energy Co-Chairs, Mr. Achim Steiner, the Administrator of UNDP, and Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. Please visit the newly launched UN-Energy website and follow on Twitter @UN_Energy.
Engaging multi-stakeholders to promote partnerships
The Dialogue will be informed by inclusive, far-reaching preparatory processes and meetings at various levels in the course of 2020 and 2021. Multi-stakeholder partnerships will be crucial for mobilising and sharing knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources. A series of outreach and briefings will be conducted to engage multi-stakeholders globally, share information on the preparatory process, and promote effective public, private, and civil society partnerships.