Delegates to COP28 call for gathering wisdom, strength to advance global energy transition

China's special envoy for climate change Xie Zhenhua addresses an energy-themed gathering in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Addressing an energy-themed gathering at the UN climate change conference, China's special envoy for climate change expressed the hope that wisdom and strength could be pooled to work out a solution to move beyond the stalemates toward energy transition goals.

DUBAI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 70 delegates to the UN climate change conference convened on Tuesday in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to seek insights and solutions for an inclusive, just and resilient global energy transition.

The energy-themed gathering came as the climate talks at COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), reached a stalemate over issues including energy transition.

The attendees, including the top Chinese climate envoy, senior UN officials, and energy officials of Egypt and Malawi, met on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate summit and jointly called for further gathering wisdom and strength to advance the global energy transition.

Xin Baoan, chief of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) and executive chairman of State Grid Corporation of China, speaks at an energy-themed gathering in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

"We stand at a critical juncture in our shared journey towards a just and inclusive energy transition. It's evident that this formidable task cannot be achieved by any single organization or nation alone," said Rola Dashti, the executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA).

She stressed that, with united endeavors, the energy sector can be "transitioned from a challenge to a solution to meet climate goals."

Addressing the gathering, China's special envoy for climate change Xie Zhenhua expressed the hope that wisdom and strength could be pooled to work out a solution to move beyond the stalemates toward energy transition goals. He added it should be a pragmatic and exemplary solution that can be shared and replicated.

Rola Dashti, the executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), speaks at an energy-themed gathering in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

The event was jointly held by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), the UNFCCC secretariat, UNESCWA, several other UN agencies, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and World Meteorological Organization, etc.

At the event, a research report on solutions and practices for inclusive, just and resilient energy transition was issued by GEIDCO. Its chief Xin Baoan, also executive chairman of State Grid Corporation of China, said energy development is facing many challenges globally, such as huge pressure for energy supply and security, tough tasks in transforming traditional industries, and unbalanced regional development.

Visitors pose for photos at the Green Zone of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

He highlighted a systematic approach and a focus on correlations between security and transition, development and emission reduction, and stocks and increments to advance high-quality energy transition.

The Beijing-based GEIDCO, established in 2016, is a China-proposed global energy body. It now has 1,305 members from 142 countries. Setting up seven regional offices globally, the organization has been promoting sustainable energy development worldwide with a focus on energy interconnection across regions.