CEET Advances a Global Energy Transition at Climate Week NYC
Members of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) joined Climate Week NYC and UNGA events to discuss key energy transition topics, including clean energy, grid transformation, digitalization, and gender equity in the energy sector.
At this year's Climate Week NYC, hosted alongside the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), members of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) presented at and attended a variety of events on the topic of the global energy transition. These annual events provide high level forums for participants of all backgrounds, sectors and experience level, to coalesce on climate action and the solution pathways.
ENERGYNOW SDG7 Action Forum 2024
The ENERGYNOW SDG7 Action Forum, convened by UN-Energy on 25-27 September, 2024, united global participants to discuss progress on affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all in alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. CEET members, Semida Silveira and Jessika Trancik, actively contributed to key discussions, focusing on clean cooking, digitalization, and gender equity in the energy transition.
Energy for Sustainable Agri-food Systems and Clean Cooking
In a panel session on clean cooking, Semida Silveira emphasized the importance of addressing clean cooking projects as a development issue rather than a just carbon emissions reduction issue. She emphasized that the focus should be on using clean cooking solutions to alleviate poverty and benefit underserved communities, rather than only prioritizing potential carbon credits that can benefit the powerful. This approach emphasizes the human development aspect of clean energy transitions.
Digitalization of the Energy Sector: A Global Perspective
Jessika Trancik contributed to a discussion on energy digitalization and emphasized that more digitalization is not always better. She pointed out that energy systems should be “as smart as you need for what you are trying to accomplish,” since excessive digitalization can increase energy consumption and associated costs. Her comments reflected the need for a more balanced approach to ensure that digitalization contributes effectively to SDG7 and broader sustainable energy objectives.
Mainstreaming Gender and Youth for SDG 7: Challenges & Opportunities for Young Women Entering the Workforce
In a panel session focused on gender and youth inclusion in the clean energy workforce, Jessika Trancik contributed to a discussion around the significant gender disparities that persist in the energy sector for young women. Women, particularly young women, are underrepresented in higher-paying technical and managerial roles and face a range of barriers to entry and progression in the industry. As the session highlighted, furthering women’s access to roles and opportunities in the industry is paramount to advancing progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 7, focusing on empowering young women in the energy transition.
The Future of the Electric Grid event at Columbia University
CEET member, Vijay Modi, joined Columbia University at a session to discuss how new technologies around energy storage, power systems, and AI could alter the electric grid, particularly for emerging economies and the billion people worldwide without access to electricity. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in energy research, Modi explored how these innovations could reshape the architecture and operations of the grid, making electricity more accessible and affordable globally.
Beyond Climate Week NYC and UNGA
The outcomes of these events and achievements of the UNGA Summit of the Future and high-level dialogues on global action will help inform and advance upcoming negotiations at the UN Climate Summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan this 11-22 November, 2024. COP29 will be particularly important in securing adequate funding for climate investments and setting the stage for the next round of ambitious, but achievable Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are due February 2025. Many CEET members will be in attendance at COP29 to share their technical expertise around advancing clean energy, designing a just transition and supporting sustainable development.
