VIENNA, AUSTRIA – High-level representatives from the member states of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), international organizations, experts from over 145 countries gathered here to explore solutions for moving towards net-zero and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
The two-day International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum, which concluded on Friday, showcased innovative technologies and transformative solutions to accelerate low-emission, climate-resilient development.
The event aimed to foster new partnerships to scale up investments and technology transfer to developing countries.
Organized by UNIDO together with the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Forum will deliver practical inputs to feed into the United Nations Climate Conference COP 28.
UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller said, “Energy is the basis for all development and progress. The world population is growing, and the global primary energy demand is projected to increase by 50 to 70 percent by 2050.”
He said, “To protect our climate and our global public goods, we need a new, sustainable, fair global model of growth and globalization. We have the technology and the knowledge for worldwide solutions.”
He added, “What we need is a new ‘Green Deal’, and more investments, especially in the African countries. Industrialized countries need to fulfill their climate commitments.”