Global youth leaders to gather at first ever SEforALL Youth Summit to push for faster progress on a clean, inclusive energy transition
Virtual fairs will connect young people with energy sector related opportunities in business and academia
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake and Enel Group CEO Francesco Starace announced as speakers
Vienna, 19 January 2020 — Registration is now open for the inaugural Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Youth Summitto be held from 9 -11 February, 2021. A virtual gathering organized by youth and for youth, the three-day Summit aims to empower young global leaders to support a just and inclusive clean energy transition in line with the Paris Agreement on climate.
Hosted by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) in partnership with the Clean Cooking Alliance and EM-ONE Energy Solutions, the Summit agenda will address the sustainable energy transition, climate action and energy access to support faster action on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Media can register here.
Delegates will also have the chance to attend two special virtual fairs to explore academic and career opportunities. The virtual fairs will be attended by leading universities, organisations and businesses, including Columbia University SIPA, National University of Lesotho, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Birmingham Energy Institute, ASEAN Centre for Energyand Clean Cooking Alliance, and provide interactive networking opportunities to connect youth delegates with experts and knowledge on different career and academic opportunities in the energy sector.
The finalists of the SEforALL Youth Summit Call for Proposals will also be announced and present their SDG7 proposals live during one of the sessions in the Summit. A jury of sustainable energy experts will pick a winner from three finalists that will receive a cash prize of USD 2,500 to help jumpstart their proposal.
Video remarks include:
- Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
- Dymphna van der Lans, CEO, Clean Cooking Alliance
- Mir Islam, CEO, EM-ONE Energy Solutions
Speakers confirmed include:
- Volkan Bozkır, President of the 75th UN General Assembly
- Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy
- Jayatma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
- Francesco Starace, Enel Group CEO and General Manager and SEforALL Administrative Board Chair
- Vanessa Nakate, UN Young Leaders for the SDGs
- Chiagozie Udeh, SDG7 Global Focal Point, The UN Major Group for Children and Youth
- Ana Sophia Mifsud, Forbes 30 under 30 for Energy, Senior Associate, Rocky Mountain Institute
- Chelsea Tucker, L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awardee Waste to Fuel
- Chebet Lesan, Founder, BrightGreen Renewable Energy, and Winner of Africa’s Business Heroes Award 2020
- Sebastian Groh, Managing Director, SOLShare
“If we’re to achieve a clean energy transition that supports climate action and closes energy access gaps, the innovation, commitment and drive of young leaders is not just desirable, it is essential. Whether you’re a high school student or a young professional, access to energy can allow you to achieve your full potential – from studying, job opportunities, opening your own business or simply enjoying life. Our aim is to create a conversation between youth and world leaders and start talking about sustainable energy that meets the needs of young people without compromising their future,”
said Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
“The SEforALL Youth Summit will kickstart an important year for the sustainable energy transition. Meaningful action requires close partnership and collaboration between the private and public sector, and we are excited to play our part in putting youth at the heart of this vision to mobilize action for SDG7,” said Mir Islam, EM-ONE Energy Solutions CEO.
“Young leaders from around the world are pivotal to meet SDG7 by 2030. What they bring to the table is critical to ensure universal access to clean cooking and modern energy. That’s why we must empower and support them with opportunities and knowledge to become the world’s energy professionals and leaders of tomorrow,” said Dymphna van der Lans, Clean Cooking Alliance CEO.
The outcomes of the Summit will feed directly into key moments this year that SEforALL is leading to drive more ambitious action towards universal energy access, including the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy in September and the UN climate change conference – COP26 – in December.
Registration for the SEforALL Youth Summit is available here.
