By Mohamed Sahr
In a powerful joint call to action, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone, alongside the United Nations Secretary-General, has urged African governments and global leaders to intensify efforts toward a clean and renewable energy transition by 2040, leveraging smart technologies and climate investments on Tuesday 22nd July 2025.
The appeal was made during a global climate session titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Special Address on Climate Change,” delivered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York and broadcast live at the UNDP head office in Freetown on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
In his keynote address, Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that the global energy transition is now an “unstoppable process” but must be handled with fairness and equity. Highlighting global disparities, he noted that while China has installed 80% of global renewable power capacity, Africa accounts for just 1%.
Guterres further emphasized the urgent need for developing countries especially in Africa to seize current opportunities, including updating national climate plans and developing fossil fuel reduction strategies. “Government responsibility must be matched with the implementation of real, actionable plans,” he stated.
The Secretary-General outlined the devastating impacts of climate change on vulnerable nations, including rising sea levels and ozone depletion. He called for a dramatic reduction in global emissions and stressed the importance of a “just energy transition” that supports sustainable development goals.
Addressing global inequity in emissions, Guterres pointed out that G20 countries contribute around 80% of global emissions. He urged these nations to adopt genuine climate plans aligned with the 1.5°C temperature target and to integrate energy, climate, and development priorities coherently.
Guterres also encouraged nations to harness smart artificial intelligence technologies to accelerate renewable energy adoption by 2027. “The future is built in the cloudand it must be powered by the sun, the wind, and the promise of a better world,” he said.
He called this a “moment of opportunity” to unlock full-scale climate financing and investments toward a more sustainable global future.
Seraphine Wakana, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, praised the Secretary-General’s message as a critical step toward tapping into future opportunities especially through a just energy transition.
“A just energy transition changes the narrative around climate change. It ensures inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and youth,” Wakana noted.
She also confirmed that Sierra Leone is in the process of developing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, with completion expected by early 2025.
Wakana urged the media to popularize the concept of a just energy transition and called on all stakeholders to act with urgency and accountability.
A representative from Government of Sierra Leone reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the country’s renewable energy transition, stating that significant strides have already been made in recent years.
Civil society organizations across the country also pledged their support and collaboration with UNDP to accelerate the transition to renewable energy nationwide.
