A joint statement on developing sustainable energy through the crucial role of green hydrogen was signed by Gerd Müller, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The leaders of both Organizations announce in a statement made at the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh that they would work together to achieve the transition to sustainable energy using green hydrogen in order to pursue energy access, energy security, and economic development.
Additionally, IRENA and UNIDO want to use international collaboration as a platform that will enable investments, policies, and clean technology development to speed up the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The world is still not on schedule to attain universal access to sustainable and cheap energy by 2030, according to Francesco La Camera, director-general of IRENA. 733 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity. This cannot be tolerated. By working with UNIDO, we hope to bring about change and encourage stronger international cooperation, which will heighten ambition and speed up development. A strategic decision to provide inexpensive energy, jobs, economic growth, and a cleaner environment to the people and communities on the ground is to advance the transition to renewables and green hydrogen.
“The foundation of all development is energy. It is the pivotal force, according to UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller. “Green hydrogen represents a tremendous possibility, particularly for underdeveloped nations. Many of them can manufacture green hydrogen due to their abundant renewable energy potential. This is an opportunity for low-carbon industrialization, which would create millions of employment. UNIDO and IRENA’s efforts are complementary. We must ensure that the energy transition is just while supporting it. To do this, developing countries require contributions from our two organizations.
Concretely, both parties endorsed the creation of efficient enabling mechanisms for the production of green hydrogen and its industrial uptake within the frameworks of the Global Alliance for Industry Decarbonization, the Coalition for Action of IRENA, and the Global Programme for Green Hydrogen in Industry.
Additionally, they will create cooperative knowledge products to educate policymakers and support the green hydrogen business case. Cooperation on stakeholder and communication initiatives for green hydrogen aims to help nations’ net zero transitions and quicken social and economic change.