Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at Closing of One Planet Summit [as prepared for delivery].

Your Excellency Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya,

Your Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic,

Your Excellency Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Interim President of the World Bank,

Excellencies, distinguished guests and partners, ladies and gentlemen,

I thank Presidents Macron and Kenyatta for bringing us here today.

2018 was a record-breaking year for all the wrong reasons.

It was the fourth warmest year on record.

Not a single region of the world was spared the effects of climate disruption- from Super Typhoons in the Philippines and South China to extreme drought in Argentina and Capetown, South Africa.

To avert further disruption, according to the IPCC, we need a rapid global transformation to reduce emissions by 45% below 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Friends and colleagues, we can achieve these climate targets. The One Planet Summit is a vital part of global efforts to step up climate action and hold ourselves accountable. It is part of the path towards 2020 -when emissions must peak and begin to decline.

It is fitting that the first regional convening of the One Planet Summit takes place in Africa, whose nations are among the least responsible for climate change, yet face some of the worst consequences.

And it is in Africa where we will see the greatest population and infrastructure growth in the world between now and 2050, increasing pressure on earth's resources if not well planned.

This population explosion is daunting, but we must see it as an opportunity.

Earlier this morning, I was pleased to hear about new business models for renewable energy in Africa. By 2030, renewable energy could cover almost a quarter of Africa's energy needs.

I urge you to harness that potential.

I was also inspired by the discussions on solutions to strengthen the resilience of African ecosystems. Your solutions are clearly urgently needed to protect the world's rich flora and fauna.

Building on this morning's discussions and as an input for this afternoon's panels, I would now like to outline four key opportunities for climate action and for a transformed development pathway in Africa, and elsewhere around the world:

One, we need to invest in green, sustainable infrastructure and finance.

Significant political will to accelerate the transition to sustainable infrastructure and finance is evident in Africa.

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