Against the backdrop of the opening of the UN General Assembly, IPI and NDC Partnership held a high-level policy forum on September 23rd bringing together senior thought leaders to discuss the energy transition and how to accelerate action. The discussion focused on the most important steps for the international community, national governments, and other actors in the next eighteen months.

The speakers highlighted the kinds of policies, leadership, and support needed to triple renewable energy production, increase efficiency, and phase out all fossil fuels. Participants exchanged views on the strengthening of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the implementation of pledges, and actions for non-state actors aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s acceleration agenda. The event also provided an opportunity to analyze the quantity and quality of climate finance needed to power this transition and the conditions necessary to scale up these finance flows.

This transition requires transformational change across all sectors and countries, leveraging diverse policy tools to accelerate implementation and address the high cost of capital in developing countries. Leadership in all its modes is a key enabler of progress, and we must understand what kind of leadership and policies can help achieve tangible results. Values such as integrity, boldness, evidence-based judgment, and inspirational hope can inform our collective approach to accelerating the transition. Adaptation, loss and damage, and the reform of international financial institutions are highly interrelated as progress on energy transition requires assistance for the most vulnerable countries with lower capacities to transition without support.

Welcoming Remarks:
Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Samoa

Speakers:
H.E. Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders
H.E. Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark
Mr. Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO, Ørsted
H.E. Selwin Charles Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition
Ms. Juliet Kabera, Director General, Rwanda Environment Management Authority

Moderator:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO of the International Peace Institute

Closing Remarks:
Ms. Christie Ulman, President, Sequoia Climate Foundation