World out of time: Leaders demand immediate energy transition action

The world has run out of time for hesitation.

That was the resounding message from officials on day one of the 2025 Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) Global Forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Wednesday, where leaders from around the world called for immediate, tangible action to accelerate the energy transition.

The forum, which is being co-hosted by SEforAll and the Government of Barbados and led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, takes the theme of Sustainable Energy for Equity, Security and Prosperity, with a focus on catalysing the actions and investment needed for countries to achieve their energy access, climate and development goals.

Setting the tone with a stark warning, Minister of Energy and Business Lisa Cummins charged that the urgency of the moment has been exhausted.

“The time to change must begin with us, right here, right now, in this moment—not a moment later,” she declared in her opening address.

“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 make a forward trajectory out of this present moment?”

Her call to action resonated with delegates from across the world, who acknowledged that progress has been too slow despite years of discussions, pledges, and global climate agreements.

Further addressing government officials, development partners, and financial institutions, Cummins challenged them to provide real solutions that remove the barriers preventing developing nations from fully embracing clean energy.

“To our development partners, what role will you play? To our developed nation partners, what role will you play? What will we do together?” she asked.

As the forum continues, discussions will focus on de-risking renewable energy investments, unlocking financing for developing nations, and ensuring that commitments translate into results.

“This is not just another conference,” Cummins said, addressing over a thousand people who gathered to chart a way forward.

“This is a call to action. And we cannot afford to leave here with only words. The people who are depending on us deserve more. The time for change is now—not a moment later.”

With just five years left until 2030—a global milestone for key climate targets—the need to move from promises to implementation decorated the speeches of various officials and was further underscored as a matter of survival.

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

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

COP29 President Mukhtar Babyev echoed the call for immediacy, further stressing that the stakes have never been higher and that delay is no longer an option.

CEO 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.

“We simply cannot be satisfied with providing poor solutions for poor people.”

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

“There are two sides competing right now. How we collectively decide to act at this moment will determine whether we progress on our shared goals or undo decades of action,” she said.

The sustainable energy advocate highlighted Barbados, one of the few countries aiming for net-zero emissions within the next decade, as a beacon for what is possible, particularly for small island states.

“Being here in the Caribbean, we can see first-hand that climate change is no longer a distant threat,” Ogunbiyi said.

“It is affecting communities, economies, and ecosystems, from flooding in coastal areas to heat distress in agricultural regions.”

The Barbados Energy Transition and Investment Plan, she noted, presents a unique opportunity to showcase how a developing nation can drive the shift toward sustainability while reaping economic benefits.

(SM)