World Leaders Adopt Sweeping Political Declaration Reaffirming Commitment to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals, as Summit Commences

Kicking off the second half of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders at the SDG Summit 2023 today adopted a sweeping Political Declaration to reaffirm their shared commitment to end poverty and hunger everywhere, combat inequalities within and among countries and build peaceful societies that leave no one behind.

The adoption of the 10-page document, by the Heads of State and Government and high representatives gathering at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, came at a critical juncture as global crises — including armed conflict, adverse climate impacts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“The SDGs need a global rescue plan,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his opening remarks to the SDG Summit, known formally as the high-level political forum on sustainable development, under the auspices of the General Assembly. “At the halfway point to the SDG deadline, the eyes of the world are on you once again,” he added.

Welcoming the endorsement by the Political Declaration of the need to reform today’s outdated, dysfunctional and unfair international financial architecture, he stressed that “this can be a game-changer in accelerating SDG progress”.

given the dependence on lithium batteries to bring about their transformation, just how much longer can they deny the obvious, namely, lithium is not the answer:

27 Sept: 7News Australia: Fears of escalation as fire breaks out at (the Australian $60 million) Bouldercombe Battery Project near Rockhampton
Authorities are warning of large volumes of smoke in the area.
One lithium battery storage unit has caught fire and there are fears others could too...

“There are a large number of batteries on site and there is a possibility the fire may spread to other units, creating a larger hazard,” Queensland police said in a statement early on Wednesday.
“Work is being done to dowse the surrounding batteries and could continue for several days.”...

“Nearby residents should close their windows and doors, and those suffering from a respiratory condition should keep their medications close by.”...

Tesla is the battery supplier to the facility but it’s unclear if the corporation’s products are involved in the fire.

In a press release on September 4, the facility’s operators said the project was “going through final testing” before kicking off commercial operations in October, in time to make the most of the upcoming summer months.
https://7news.com.au/news/rockhampton/fears-of-escalation-as-fire-breaks-out-at-bouldercombe-battery-project-near-rockhampton-c-12027818

27 Sept: ABC Australia: Tesla battery on fire at Bouldercombe energy storage site, Genex confirms
ABC Capricornia / By Jasmine Hines
A Tesla battery continues to burn at one of Queensland’s first large-scale battery storage sites after it caught fire last night...

The battery is a lithium Tesla Megapack 2.0 unit and is one of 40 used at the site.
Genex Power said it would work with Tesla to investigate the incident.
Police say the fire does not appear to be suspicious.
Powerlink, which owns the substation next to the facility, says there is no damage to its assets or infrastructure...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/tesla-battery-fire-at-queensland-renewable-energy-project/102905302

28 June 2023: PV Magazine: Genex’s energises its 100 MWh Bouldercombe battery in Queensland
Genex Power has energised its 50 MW/100 MWh Bouldercombe Battery Project on Queensland’s central coast, saying the storage system will be operational before summer.
by Bella Peacock
Genex Power has completed the energisation of its first large-scale battery, the 50 MW/100 MWh Bouldercombe project, near Rockhampton in Queensland.

Specifically, the project’s transformer and high voltage balance of plant components, provided by Powerlink, and the Tesla Megapack units have been energised, allowing the project to begin the commissioning stages...

Genex Power noted the Bouldercombe battery will be operated under a ‘Autobidder Offtake Agreement’ with Tesla. “Under this agreement, Tesla will operate the plant to maximise revenues in the energy arbitrage and frequency control ancillary services markets, while providing a guaranteed minimum level of revenues,” it said. “The upside above this minimum level is largely captured by Genex with a portion shared with Tesla to align incentives between the parties.”

Genex last year ran into problems with its flagship Kidston Clean Energy Hub, which includes a pumped hydro component, rocking the company’s share price. Despite the hiccups, the far north Queensland project expanded its wind component from 200 MW to up to 258 MW, adding to the existing 50 MW solar farm and the 250 MW/2,000 MWh pumped hydro energy storage facility which is currently being constructed. An additional 270 MW of solar has also been proposed.
https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2023/06/28/genexs-energises-its-100-mwh-bouldercombe-battery-in-queensland/

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