A Vision Statement by Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations

A vision statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlining the goal to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030 through universal energy access, improved energy efficiency, and an increased share of renewable energy.

• The United Nations has set a goal to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030, which is based on three interconnected objectives: ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• Global energy poverty is severe, with over 1.3 billion people lacking electricity and at least 2.7 billion lacking clean cooking facilities. More than 95% of these individuals reside in developing Asia or sub-Saharan Africa. The use of traditional fuels for cooking and heating results in nearly 2 million deaths annually due to smoke and fumes.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that providing universal energy access by 2030 requires an annual investment of $48 billion, which is more than five times the 2009 investment level of $9.1 billion. Of this total, $4-5 billion per year is specifically needed for clean cooking facilities.
• Significant barriers hinder the transition to sustainable energy, including path dependence created by existing infrastructure, high initial costs of clean technologies, and regulatory policies that protect the status quo. In 2010, national governments spent over $400 billion subsidizing fossil-fuel use.
• Energy efficiency offers substantial economic returns; the IEA reports that every $1 spent on efficient electrical equipment and buildings avoids an average of more than $2 in energy supply investments. Implementing all cost-effective efficiency measures could reduce the projected increase in global energy consumption by 55 to 75 percent over the next two decades.
• The Sustainable Energy for All initiative has established a High-Level Group, led by Kandeh Yumkella and Charles Holliday, to recommend an Action Agenda and create processes for shared learning and accountability to track progress toward the 2030 goal.

APA

Ki-moon, B. (2011). A Vision Statement by Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations. Sustainable Energy for All. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/gather-content/SG_Sustainable_Energy_for_All_vision.pdf

Chicago

Ki-moon, Ban. A Vision Statement by Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations. Sustainable Energy for All, 2011. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/gather-content/SG_Sustainable_Energy_for_All_vision.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Ki-moon |first1=Ban |title=A Vision Statement by Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations |publisher=Sustainable Energy for All |date=November 2011 |url=https://www.seforall.org/system/files/gather-content/SG_Sustainable_Energy_for_All_vision.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{kimoon2011vision, author = {Ki-moon, Ban}, title = {{A Vision Statement by Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations}}, publisher = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2011}, month = nov, url = {https://www.seforall.org/system/files/gather-content/SG_Sustainable_Energy_for_All_vision.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }