An Independent Advisory Council to the UN Secretary General
September 16, 2021 | 12:15-13:30 EST / 18:15-19:30 CEST
Decarbonizing the world energy system by mid-century to meet the 1.5° limit encouraged by the Paris Agreement requires comprehensive measures by all signatories to the Agreement. COP26 represents a decisive opportunity to place nations on the path to decarbonization by 2050, as they continue to raise their ambitions in their Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term strategies under the Paris Agreement. Engineers are key actors within this process, as they have the technical knowledge, skills, and expertise to plan and implement an inclusive and sustainable pathway to decarbonization.
The Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) will be chaired by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and will engage important partners from the United Nations (UN), academia and business sectors. SDSN, in conjunction with UNIDO and several other UN agencies, will constitute a Steering Committee to oversee a global, high-level body of engineers and energy systems experts to contribute to the UN Secretary General’s Coalition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and provide engineering pathways to achieve comprehensive decarbonization by mid-century. The work of the CEET will be undertaken by recognized global experts operating in their personal capacities and responding to requests for information and guidance by the UN.
Please join the launch alongside the UN General Assembly in September 2021 to learn more.
Launch Event Agenda
Master of Ceremony: Tareq Emtairah, Director of the Department of Energy, UNIDO
- Opening Remarks Video Message – 5 mins
Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
- CEET Steering Committee Keynotes – 20 mins
Li Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
- Moderated Panel Discussion – Role of Engineers and Key Challenges – 25 mins
Jessika Trancik, Professor, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mohamed Salah Elsobki, Professor Emeritus, Cairo University
- Steering Committee Reflections – Opportunities the Energy Transition offers to Achieve the Paris Agreement -20 mins
–Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
–Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
–Carlo Papa, Managing Director, Enel Foundation
–Haoliang Xu, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
–Andre Dzikus, Chief, Urban Basic Services Section, UN-Habitat
-Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL)
-United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
-United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
-United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Closing Remarks – 5 mins
Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
