SDSN and UNIDO Welcome First Cohort of Engineers to the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET)
NEW YORK - June 9, 2022 | The Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition ( CEET ): An Independent Advisory Council for the UN Secretary-General, welcomed its first cohort of 36 engineers today in an inaugural meeting. This demarcates a milestone in the formation of the Council which is still an ongoing process as additional engineers will be added over the next few months to form the complete Council of 50.
The CEET has been established with the aim of contributing to the UN Secretary-General’s coalition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 , and providing engineering pathways to achieve comprehensive decarbonization by mid-century. It is being led and co-chaired by Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
“Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is possible! We have the knowledge and the technologies to make it happen. Bringing in world-class scientific and engineering know-how from across the world, the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition will provide concrete solutions to achieve the objectives of the Paris agreement as well as universal energy access for all” said Müller.
The first cohort of engineers is globally balanced with the Council members representing every major continent, while also demonstrating equitable gender representation. They come from the business, academia, and NGO sectors with a breadth of expertise in power generation; construction and building materials; agriculture and food systems; waste management; process industries; transportation; land use and land use change forestry; and information and communications technology (ICT). Over the next few months, the CEET Secretariat will continue to recruit and add members to the Council with the full 50 members onboard by the UN General Assembly in September.
As UN Member States begin their preparations for COP27 this November, the Council begins its work, participating in a new era of technology diplomacy to facilitate a rapid and equitable transition of our energy systems. Equipped with substantial technological knowledge and analytical backgrounds, this world-class council of engineers will comprehensively examine the status of key technologies, pathways, and policies and work to fill key knowledge gaps while taking into account a range of perspectives, needs, and approaches from across the world. The Council will work together over the coming months in preparation for the upcoming COP27 in Egypt in November 2022 where their first statement will be released.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) | www.unido.org
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. UNIDO’s mission is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development, contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For more information, contact: Nicholas Dehod, Project Administrator ( [email protected] )
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) | www.unsdsn.org
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
For more information, contact: Elena Crete, Head of the Climate & Energy Program, SDSN ( [email protected] )