Philippines Highlights Clean Energy at UN Dialogue 

Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “In our envisioned energy future, the country’s power generation and energy mixes will shift from being oil and coal-centered to one where natural gas, and other emerging clean energy technologies have increased shares,” at the High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) held during the High-Level Week of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly ( Photo from New York PM)

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK 01 October 2021 –  Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi highlighted the Clean Energy Scenario, which was laid out in the updated Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), at the High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) convened virtually by the UN Secretary-General on 24 September 2021 during the High-Level Week of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Secretary Cusi, in a pre-recorded statement, elaborated on efforts by the Philippines to increase the use of cleaner, efficient, sustainable, secure, and resilient energy systems. The Clean Energy Scenario scales up renewable energy development and utilization, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to support the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, the improvement of energy efficiency and conservation measures across various sectors, and the mainstreaming of alternative and emerging energy technologies.

Secretary Cusi said, “In our envisioned energy future, the country’s power generation and energy mixes will shift from being oil and coal-centered to one where natural gas, and other emerging clean energy technologies have increased shares.”

The country’s energy sector calls for climate justice inasmuch as the Philippines has never been a significant instigator of climate change but is a victim of its worsening wrath. The sector also bore the brunt of extreme weather events in 2020, with some devastated areas still undergoing restoration.

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay also participated in the Dialogue as one of the Multi-stakeholder Leaders. She pledged to take measures to improve energy management and efficiency and said that “cities and regions are joining the race to zero and race to resilience, committing to net zero emissions and more resilient future by no later than 2050 in line with the Paris agreement on global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and placing people at the core of decision making.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his opening remarks, stressed a “double imperative – to end energy poverty and to limit climate change,” which he said could be addressed by ensuring affordable, renewable and sustainable energy for all.  The Secretary General also shared his four energy priorities, namely, to close the energy access gap by 2030, decarbonize the energy systems, mobilize finance at scale, and ensure no one is left behind in the race to a net zero future.

Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Undersecretary-General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), called for a global roadmap towards energy for all.

In more than 40 years at the UN, the High-level Dialogue on Energy is the first gathering of leaders solely devoted to energy issues. The dialogue had two main outcomes: a global roadmap with recommended actions and milestones to accelerate achievement of SDG7 by 2030; and, voluntary commitments from Member States and other stakeholders in the form of “Energy Compacts,” setting out actions planned to advance clean, affordable energy for all by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. END

For more information, visit https://www.un.int/philippines/      and https://web.facebook.com/PHMissionNY