International Conference on Energy Transition

Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressing Sixth SEforAll Global Forum (CMC Photo)

Introduction to the Conference

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC—A two-day international conference on energy began here on Wednesday amid concerns that the world has run out of time for hesitation and that immediate, tangible action is needed to accelerate the energy transition.

The 2025 Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) Global Forum, which has brought together more than 1,000 delegates from around the world, including the executive secretary of United Nations Climate Change, Simon Stiell, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gambia, is being co-hosted by SEforAll and the Barbados government under theme “Sustainable Energy for Equity, Security and Prosperity,” with a focus on catalyzing the actions and investment needed for countries to achieve their energy access, climate and development goals.

Call to Action

“The time to change must begin with us, right here, right now, at this moment, not a moment later,” said Barbados Minister of Energy and Business Lisa Cummins.

“We have seen far more watershed moments in history than we can count. There is always a battle of some kind. There will always be a battle of some kind. But how do we progress out of this present moment?”

“This is not just another conference. This is a call to action. And we cannot afford to leave here with only words. The people who depend on us deserve more. The time for change is now—not a moment later,” she added.

Urgency of Action

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed reinforced the urgency, telling the delegates that “we just have five years to close the energy gap” and that the “urgency of action cannot be exaggerated.”

She outlined three critical pillars for the transition–collaboration, creativity to address complexity and coherence–warning that the “window for action is closing.”

Mukhtar Babyev, the president of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, also echoed the call for immediacy, further stressing that the stakes have never been higher and that delay is no longer an option.

Energy Access as a Fundamental Right

The chief executive officer of SEforAll, Damilola Ogunbiyi, reinforced the urgency, stating that energy access must be seen as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

“We must seek to solve the energy access challenge with a commitment to giving people power for a dignified and productive life,” she said, adding, “We simply cannot be satisfied with providing poor solutions for poor people.”

She said clean energy must do more than provide essential lighting and charging, noting that it must fuel industries, create jobs, and drive economic growth.

Barbados Prime Minister’s Address

In her address to the conference, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley spoke of the importance of pooling resources and activities within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to enhance energy capacity and meet global demand.

“In our region…we have started the preliminary work of seeing what it can look like if instead of each country trying to go off on their own for off-take agreements or to compensate for the fact that we are one of the most underpopulated regions in the world, except Haiti…to compensate for the lack of demand.”

“Our energy capacity, our renewable energy capacity in this region, is significantly higher than our ability to use the off-take therefrom. Therefore, rather than seeking to move, we must come together to determine how we can leverage Guyana and Suriname’s hydroelectric potential and its vast solar because of the land the geothermal of Dominique. Jamaica, St. Kitts, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia, the offshore and onshore wind potential and solar potential of Jamaica, Belize, the various associate territories, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago.”

Meetings and Partnerships

Mottley said that in order to meet global demand, whether in Europe, Japan, or elsewhere, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recently visited the Caribbean and “made us aware of the fact that they in Europe have determined that they will produce 10 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030.”

But she said they would need to import and that while there has been much commercial activity between Europe and Africa, the reality is that within CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago has stood as a credible and large supplier of ammonia, not just in this region, but to Europe already.

Conclusion

The conference highlighted the urgent need for immediate action to accelerate the energy transition, with a focus on collaboration, creativity, and coherence. The delegates emphasized the importance of energy access as a fundamental right, and the need for clean energy to fuel industries, create jobs, and drive economic growth.

The conference also showcased the potential for partnerships and cooperation between countries, particularly in the Caribbean region, to enhance energy capacity and meet global demand.

FAQs

What is the main theme of the 2025 Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) Global Forum?

The main theme of the 2025 SEforAll Global Forum is “Sustainable Energy for Equity, Security and Prosperity.”

Who are the co-hosts of the 2025 SEforAll Global Forum?

The 2025 SEforAll Global Forum is co-hosted by SEforAll and the Barbados government.

What is the goal of the conference?

The goal of the conference is to catalyze the actions and investment needed for countries to achieve their energy access, climate, and development goals.