Secretary-General welcomes European Union Decision to establish targets for energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:



The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the leaders of the European Union to establish targets for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. In the face of rising greenhouse gas emissions, committing to a substantial decrease for the next decade is ambitious. But ambition and leadership are just what is needed to respond to climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing humankind.



The European Union’s moves can help put the world’s energy systems on more sustainable footing. They offer business strong incentives to develop the advanced technologies that the world, and above all the developing world, needs to meet its energy needs, while at the same time, addressing climate change.



The European Union decision also raises hopes for further advances in the course of this year. In particular, the world looks to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Bali, Indonesia in December, to launch intensive talks on strengthening international cooperation to reduce emissions. The Secretary-General calls on all countries to participate in these talks with ambition and creativity.