IRENA at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

New York, United States of America

The United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is the central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the Forum, IRENA took part in the following events:

Review of SDG Implementation: SDG7 Energy (HLPF Official Review Session on SDG7)

When: 3:00 – 6.00 pm, 10 July
Where: Conference Room 4, Plenary Session, United Nations Headquarters

The official HLPF review session on SDG7 was moderated by IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin and featured several inspirational, high-level speakers on global progress towards the achievement of SDG7. Scene setters, lead discussants and country representatives shared progress to date and the way forward.

Confirmed panel speakers for the event included:

  • Mr Siri Jirapongham, Minister of Energy, Thailand
  • Ms Laurence Tubiana, CEO of European Climate Foundation
  • Ms Sheila Oparaocha, Executive Director of ENERGIA
  • Mr Riccardo Puliti, Senior Director of Energy and Extractive Industries Global Practice, World Bank Group

Off-Grid Renewable Energy Solutions for Universal Modern Energy Access

When: 1:15 – 2.30 pm, 12 July
Where: Conference Room 12, United Nations Headquarters

Renewable energy off-grid solutions are witnessing an unprecedented development thanks to dedicated policy and regulations, falling costs, technology innovation, new business models and local entrepreneurship. Renewables are well-positioned to provide the most cost-effective and sustainable solutions for energy access in rural and remote areas. This side event, co-hosted by IRENA and Norway, presented IRENA’s findings on off-grid and brought together practitioners to share experiences and identified concrete actions needed to scale-up off-grid renewable energy deployment.

Confirmed panel speakers for the event included:

  • Ms. Sarah Alexander, Senior Advisor, SELCO
  • Mr. Eli Michell-Larsen, COO, SunFarmer
  • Mr. Eco Matser, Global Lead on Energy Access and Climate, HIVOS
  • Ms. Jane Oyugi, Co-founder and CEO, Sustenersol
  • Mr. Ram Prasad Dhital, Executive Director, Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Nepal

High-Level Dinner: Sustainable Renewable Energy at the Heart of the SDGs

(by invitation only)

When: 7:30 – 10.30 pm, 16 July
Where: Harvard Club, 35 W 44th St

Renewable energy contributes to the realisation of almost all SDGs, including those related to climate, economic growth, cities, jobs, agriculture, health, water and poverty. This interactive high-level dinner and dialogue, held at the New York Harvard Club, brought together inspirational leaders from the public and the private sectors and civil society to discuss experiences, partnerships and solutions to harness the transformative power of renewable energy.

The dinner was co-organised by IRENA, Norway, the UN Department for Social and Economic Affairs, Denmark and Pakistan, and was by invitation only.

 

For more information on the events and other IRENA engagements at HLPF, please contact IRENA’s New York Office at nyoffice@irena.org