51猎奇

Hon’ble Heads of State and Government,
Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria,
Director General of UNIDO,
Hon’ble Ministers, 
Excellencies, 

I have the honour to represent the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres.

I convey his sincere appreciation to the Government of Austria, UNIDO and IIASA for convening this timely Forum. 

The theme of this Forum - “Powering Prosperity, Security and Stability” – speaks directly to the moment we are in. 

It is especially fitting that this Forum places a strong focus on countries in special situations – the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and I thank Austria and UNIDO for their steadfast commitment to the world’s most vulnerable countries.

These countries are among those furthest behind the Sustainable Development Goals, and among the most exposed to shocks they did little to create.

Excellencies, 

Reliable, sustainable, affordable, and universal energy access is the foundation of economic transformation.

It underpins productive capacity, drives manufacturing and trade, and creates job opportunity.

Above all, it is indispensable to delivering the 2030 Agenda, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

As the Secretary-General underscored at the 21st UNIDO General Conference, “industrial development is critical to strengthening economies, fighting poverty, and creating jobs and prosperity.”

Yet for many of the most vulnerable countries, this transformation remains out of reach.

Too many LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS continue to face persistent energy deficits.

Persistent energy deficits - driven by weak infrastructure, high costs, and structural constraints - continue to limit progress in these countries, narrowing pathways to greener, more resilient, and more inclusive economies.

These challenges are further intensified by the escalating climate crisis.

Addressing them requires urgent and coordinated action on two interlinked fronts: advancing a just and equitable energy transition, while rapidly scaling up adaptation at a pace that reflects realities on the ground.

There is also a clear security dimension.

For many of these countries, climate change is not a distant risk - it is an immediate and escalating threat.

It is eroding hard-won development gains, deepening instability, and in conflict-affected contexts, acting as a threat multiplier. 
For low-lying island nations, it represents an existential threat.

Excellencies,

Recent geopolitical tensions, including in the Middle East, have once again exposed the fragility of the global system.

Crises are increasingly interconnected - spilling rapidly across energy, food, transport and financial systems. 

And it is the most vulnerable countries - those already burdened by high debt, dependence on imported fuel and food, elevated transport costs, and limited fiscal space - that bear the heaviest costs.

This is why the Secretary-General has called for tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Achieving this will require removing barriers, reducing costs, and accelerating the access of clean energy to people, communities and industries at scale.

It also means coordinated and decisive actions across all stakeholders.
Governments need to put in place rules and incentives that support clean energy.
 
Utilities must modernize grids and strengthen interconnections.

Industry must build more resilient and diversified supply chains.

Financiers must lower the cost of capital.
 
And the international financial institutions must unlock far greater flows of private investment.

And, this Forum brings together the actors needed to help move this agenda forward.

Excellencies,

With less than four years remaining to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, we cannot afford further setbacks. 

We must act with urgency to safeguard development gains and build resilience against future shocks, to power prosperity, security and stability,
As the UN Secretary General has underscored: “Now more than ever, we must accelerate a just transition to renewable energy. Renewables deliver climate security, energy security and national security.”

I am confident that this Forum will help advance practical solutions and strengthen the collective resolve this moment demands.

You can count on the United Nations to play its full part.

I thank you.