Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the 2026 IEA Ministerial Meeting.

Excellencies,

I am pleased to address the International Energy Agency’s Ministerial Meeting.

We have entered the age of clean energy.

Renewables are now the cheapest, fastest and safest source of new electricity almost everywhere.

Investors know it: last year, two trillion US dollars flowed into clean energy – nearly twice as much as into fossil fuels.

Those who lead this transition will lead the global economy of the future.

Yet some fossil fuel interests remain hell-bent on slowing progress;

Spreading disinformation; pretending that a transition is unrealistic or unaffordable.

Let’s tell it like it is:

The world’s addiction to fossil fuels is one of the greatest threats to global stability and prosperity.

Three-fourths of humanity lives in countries that are net importers of fossil fuels;

Dependent on energy they do not control – at prices they cannot predict;

Watching development budgets siphoned into fuel bills;

At the constant mercy of geopolitical turmoil and supply disruptions.

This insecurity is baked into the system.

We must stop treating the transition away from fossil fuels as taboo.

Delay will only breed instability.

History is littered with the wreckage of failed transitions – broken economies, scarred communities, and lost opportunities.

We face a choice:

Design the transition together – or stumble into it through crisis and chaos.

That is why today, I am calling for a dedicated global platform for honest dialogue on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

This platform must bring together producers and consumers, developed and developing countries, public and private financial institutions and civil society.

It must be a space to sequence the decline of fossil fuel investment with the rapid scale-up of clean energy;

And to deliver a global transition plan that aligns investment, energy security and climate goals – with concrete milestones and robust finance, particularly for developing countries;

This shift must be fair, orderly, affordable, and aligned with 1.5°C – protecting workers and communities, and connecting hundreds of millions of people to modern energy services.

I urge you to help us create this platform and move faster, together.

This is how we cut emissions, strengthen energy security, power development, and build lasting stability.

The IEA has helped make the clean energy transition undeniable.

Now let’s make it unstoppable.

Thank you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7inG8G7h6nA

Source: United Nations (video statements)

“At the current pace, it will take us seven years to remove all the rubble,” said United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Alexander De Croo, briefing reporters via video link.

During a press conference held at UN headquarters in New York De Croo described “extremely painful conditions to live in” and said UNDP is working on a three-part recovery effort focused on rubble removal, temporary housing and restarting the private sector.

On debris clearance, he said, “Rubble removal – we have done approximately 0.5 percent of the total. At the current pace, it will take us seven years to remove all the rubble.” He added that “90 percent of the people of Gaza today live in the middle of that rubble, which is extremely dangerous also from a health point of view and unexploded weapons which are there,” underscoring the scale and risks of the task.

Turning to shelter, De Croo said, “The second dimension on which we work is recovery housing. As I said, 90 percent of the population lives in what you could even, not even call tents. I mean, this is very, very rudimentary tents.” He stressed that UNDP’s recovery housing units are “definitely not reconstruction, but it’s an improvement on what is available for the moment.”

“So far, we’ve been able to build 500 of these. We have 4000 which are ready,” he said, but added that “the needs are gigantic between 200,000 and 300,000 units are necessary to give people a better living. Not the living that they should have, but a better living than what’s available for the moment.”

The third track, he said, focuses on livelihoods. “And then third dimension which we work on is private sector restarts. Private sector has been in hibernation.” Through “limited investment and limited work for cash programs,” he said UNDP has been able, “for example, in food processing, to get back going.”

To scale up assistance, De Croo said the agency has “one big ask to the Israeli authorities and that is to have more access, more access for material to do debris removal, more access with our recovery housing units and more access to help the private sector that we can restart.”

He said, “We understand the security concerns of the Israeli authorities, but that would not be a reason to not provide organizations such as UNDP, other UN organizations and international NGOs to provide us the more access that is definitely needed, to be able to help more people.”

Answering a question about Board of Peace he said, with 2.2 million people in Gaza, “In the current circumstance, we really need all hands. And it’s really all hands on deck and all type of support, being it financial or being it operational is welcome.” He added, “any help in providing more access in a safe way would be to their help.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_5jbyjLsZ4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Reading a statement on behalf of over 80 Member States and organizations, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said, “We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful presence in the West Bank.”

He added, “Such decisions are contrary to Israel ‘s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed. We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation.”

He also said, “We reiterate our rejection of all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. Such measures violate international law, undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, run counter to the Comprehensive Plan, and jeopardize the prospect of reaching a peace agreement ending the conflict.”

He concluded, “Ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and implementing the two-State solution, where two democratic States, an independent and sovereign Palestine and Israel, live side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders on the basis of the 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, remains the only path to ensure security and stability in the region.”

Statement was read on behalf of Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chad, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon , Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, The Gambia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe, League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and European Union.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RIQ30YmOoo