Havana.- For the first time in history, International Clean Energy Day will be celebrated on January 26 this year. The chosen date commemorates the founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency in 2009.
This celebration aims to accelerate the energy transition towards renewable energy at the global level, in line with the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda. The aim of the commemoration is therefore to promote modern, affordable and sustainable energy systems, according to the website diainternacionalde.com.
International Clean Energy Day was proclaimed by consensus by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on August 25, 2023. The resolution establishing the celebration invites, in one of its points, “all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations to cooperate in the celebration (…), together with other relevant organizations and stakeholders.”
In this sense, the United Nations states on its website that “the connection between clean energy, socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability is crucial to addressing the problems facing vulnerable communities around the world.”
It follows from the above that the United Nations system recognizes, at least in principle, the need to integrate multiple efforts to implement policies to promote the use of clean energy. However, practical measures are required beyond formal recognition.
The existing gap between developed and developing countries in access to the technologies necessary to change the energy matrix must also be taken into account, as well as the strong economic interests behind traditional energy sources.
What is clean energy?
Clean energy is also known as renewable energy or green energy. These are those that are obtained in the short term from inexhaustible or renewable natural resources. In addition, its use does not cause greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants.
Classic examples include sun, wind, hydropower, geothermal energy and biomass. It is believed that these sources are typically expensive to install, but once installed, their use is more profitable than using fossil fuels.