The UN chief, Mr. Guterres, addressed a summit of developing country leaders at the ongoing UN climate conference, COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He emphasized the importance of critical energy transition minerals in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Mr. Guterres called for countries to triple renewables capacity, double energy efficiency, and ensure clean energy access for all by 2030. He stressed the need to phase out fossil fuels in an equitable manner and highlighted the opportunity for developing countries to transform their economies through the green energy boom. However, he also warned of the risks and challenges associated with the extraction of critical minerals, such as impacts on water, biodiversity, health, and indigenous peoples’ rights. To address these issues, the UN chief proposed the establishment of a Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals to develop common principles for extractive industries. UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis praised the G77 and China for their leadership in renewable energy and called for continued efforts to address sustainability challenges. The second day of the summit saw the UN chief advocating for climate action to support landlocked developing countries facing the impacts of climate change. He urged big emitters to reduce emissions and emphasized the potential benefits of the renewables revolution for these nations. Mr. Guterres also highlighted the distressing situation in mountainous regions, particularly in Nepal, where glacier melting is having devastating effects. He called for a strong rescue plan to respond to the distress call of mountains. The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of the decisions to be made at COP28’s ‘Global Stocktake’ in boosting climate ambition and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. These decisions should focus on finance, reducing emissions, and fostering international cooperation.
