2주차|환경,기후,에너지_강혜지

[강혜지]

Renewable Energy for Climate and Peace

Speaker: Shoko Noda (UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Crisis Bureau Director)
Date: 2025.09.24
Word Count: 430

Renewable Energy for Climate and Peace | United Nations Development Programme

Glossary
1. UNDP: 유엔개발계획
2. Climate, Peace and Security portfolio: 기후·평화·안보 포트폴리오

3. Yemen: 예맨
4. Somalia: 소말리아

5. Kyiv: 키이우/키예프 (우크라이나의 수도)

Script

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, partners, friends – good morning and welcome.

I’m pleased to open this important discussion on a topic at the heart of our shared mission: how renewable energy can drive climate action, recovery and peacebuilding in conflict-prone places.

Climate change is not only an environmental challenge – it is a risk multiplier. It disrupts food and water supplies, intensifies competition over scarce resources, and destroys livelihoods. These pressures, in turn, fuel displacement and conflict. 

Conflict then deepens the crisis. It damages energy infrastructure and drives communities into energy poverty. Today, 685 million people live without electricity – most in regions already vulnerable to conflict. 

Electricity isn’t a luxury: it’s a lifeline. It powers health facilities and schools, pumps clean water, connects communities, and provides lights at night that help keep women and girls safe.

My first message is this: energy is vital for relief, recovery and peace. 

In the short-term, it saves lives and restores dignity.

In the medium-term, energy powers rebuilding and enables markets to reopen.

In the long-term, it underpins sustainable development and stability.

Energy also builds peace. Visible, fair and conflict-sensitive service delivery – including energy - can rebuild state legitimacy, ease resource tensions and create shared economic incentives. And when communities are a part of managing energy, it fosters social cohesion.

Renewable energy offers decentralized, resilient and low-cost solutions. Take solar panels: they not only provide power for households, but – when managed inclusively and supported by the community – can also reduce competition over scarce resources and help ease tensions.

UNDP is one of the largest implementers of renewable energy projects in crisis and post-crisis contexts. Through our Climate, Peace and Security portfolio, we support over 50 countries and regions to manage climate risks, reduce instability, and strengthen resilience.

In Yemen, we helped install solar systems in hospitals to ensure uninterrupted maternal care, safe vaccine storage, and life-saving surgeries – in a country where fuel imports are scarce and costly.

In Somalia, decentralized solar-water systems are helping communities recovering from drought and conflict, while reducing dependence on diesel.

In Ukraine, we helped deploy renewable energy to public utilities and hospitals, ensuring the continued operating despite war. When I visited Ukraine, I saw how energy meant survival, dignity and hope. At a heat and power station outside Kyiv, engineers worked tirelessly – under air raids – to bring electricity and heat to fellow citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen, my second message is this: renewable energy is not only a better choice in fragile contexts – often it is the only choice.

Many fragile and conflict-affected countries enjoy excellent solar, wind, hydro or geothermal energy potential.