PRETORIA, South Africa (CU)_The South African government on Thursday (29 April), hosted the Energy Transition Council National Dialogue ahead of the UN climate talks (COP26) in November. The purpose of the event was to provide emerging economies an opportunity to connect with political and financial leaders in order to determine how best they could enhance cooperation for a greener energy supply.
The event co-hosted by South Africa was led by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in Pretoria. It provided the South African government an opportunity to deliberate on challenges and opportunities associated with the acceleration of the much-needed energy transition in the country.
The British High Commission, together with the Embassies of Germany, France and Denmark, in association with the European Union, joined South Africa in co-hosting the event.
The Energy Transition Council was launched by President for COP26 Alok Sharma. It is chaired by the United Kingdom, along with Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
The Dialogue on Thursday was part of a larger initiative, which included several other dialogues which took place in ten countries, including India, Nigeria, Kenya, Vietnam and Egypt.
This year’s UN climate talks, which will be held in Glasgow in November, is hosted by the UK government. Earlier this month, representatives from the US, the UK and those from developing and developed nations agreed to hold a three-week long virtual meeting from 31 May, in order to begin negotiating agreements, which can then be rubber stamped when the participants meet in person later this year.
