Tag Archives: COP21

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The Real Cost of Energy: Why Renewables Make More Sense

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Op Ed by IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin (originally published in the Huffington Post)

Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions have plateaued for the second year running – an extraordinary fact considering the global economy grew by more than 3% in the same period. This news, coming just before leaders from 175 countries gathered in New York to sign the Paris Agreement, provides a welcome sign of real progress in the fight against climate change.

But stabilizing energy-related emissions is not enough to fulfil the ambition of the Paris Agreement – the kind of ambition needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. This will require using energy more efficiently, and transitioning rapidly (roughly six times faster than today’s pace) to an energy system powered by renewables. IRENA recently released the second edition of its Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Future (REmap) which provides recommendations on how to do just that. Continue reading The Real Cost of Energy: Why Renewables Make More Sense →

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China’s Water Crisis: Renewables Offer Water Stress Solution

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Water in China is a big issue.

According to the United Nations, China is home to 21% of the world’s population but contains only 7% of global freshwater supplies. Faced with an imminent water supply challenge, China introduced province-level water use quotas for 2015, 2020 and 2030, targeting improvements in water use efficiency across sectors, and rightly so.

The country’s water tables have dropped roughly one meter per year in the north where nearly half of the people live. The north is also home to more than half of national thermal power generation, four-fifths of coal production and reserves, and nearly half of China’s sown cropland, creating competition for limited water resources. Continue reading China’s Water Crisis: Renewables Offer Water Stress Solution →

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IRENA Welcomes Paris Climate Agreement as ‘watershed for the global energy transition’

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IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin issued the following statement after the adoption of the Paris Agreement at the COP21 Climate Conference:

“Yesterday the global community was united in voicing commitment for decisive, inclusive and coordinated action on climate change. The Paris Agreement provides a framework for international cooperation and sends a clear signal to all stakeholders to raise their ambition. Continue reading IRENA Welcomes Paris Climate Agreement as ‘watershed for the global energy transition’ →

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Clean Energy Corridor Initiative Expands to West Africa

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A star-studded panel of eight key African leaders convened on the sidelines of COP21 yesterday to discuss plans to meet Africa’s current and future energy needs through renewable energy.

Africa is going through a sustained period of economic growth and transformation with consistent GDP growth rates of 6 to 7% per year. If current growth rates are maintained, Africa’s GDP will increase three-fold by 2030 and seven-fold by 2050. To meet growing electricity demand, and to improve electricity access, Africa must triple or quadruple its current capacity.

Thankfully, the continent has huge stores of renewable energy from wind and solar, to geothermal and hydropower. Analysis shows that renewable energy could feasibly meet half the continent’s power needs by 2030. Continue reading Clean Energy Corridor Initiative Expands to West Africa →

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The Reliability of Renewable Energy Systems: Why the Conventional Wisdom Is Wrong

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Originally published at The Huffington Post

For the first time at any UN climate conference, renewable energy is taking center stage from now through “Energy Day” on December 7th. And for good reason.

Renewable energy, no longer the new kid on the block, is now capturing market share from fossil fuels and nuclear energy at an unprecedented rate. The world installed more renewable energy capacity over the past three years than nuclear and fossil fuels combined, disrupting the energy sector and the business case for conventional energy models.

Fact-based arguments and objective scientific evidence aren’t given enough attention in the struggle to win the hearts and minds of decision makers and the public. Some of this may be chalked up to what academics refer to as “incumbents’ inertia” in the face of technological change. Some point to more sinister motives by those who have the most to lose financially from a changing industry. Continue reading The Reliability of Renewable Energy Systems: Why the Conventional Wisdom Is Wrong →

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Energy Day at COP21: Unlocking Climate Solutions

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An increasing number of governments, businesses and cities are taking action to accelerate the ongoing renewable energy transition. To spur momentum at COP21, yesterday was designated Energy Day in the context of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA).

As described on the LPAA website, “The Lima-Paris Action Agenda brings both state and non-state actors together on the global stage to accelerate cooperative climate action now and into the future in support of the new, universal climate change agreement which governments will reach in Paris.”

Given the massive global focus on the Paris negotiations, it was no surprise that a slew of exciting new commitments were announced. The program for the day was literally packed with speakers and discussion panels. Continue reading Energy Day at COP21: Unlocking Climate Solutions →

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RE-Energising the Future: Renewable Energy Solutions Showcased in Paris

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Renewable energy solutions, innovation and action were showcased yesterday in Paris at the ‘RE-Energising the Future’ international conference – a gathering of governments, businesses and civil society organized by IRENA and several partners.

Government representatives including Moroccan Energy Minister Abdelkader Amara, Governor Jerry Brown of California, and Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, inspired the audience with their ambitious plans for scaling up renewable energy. A central feature of the discussion was that renewable energy is a key solution to three existential security challenges: climate, economy and energy supply. It was noted that having strong policy in place is essential for accelerating energy efficiency and the deployment of renewables at the scale and speed necessary to address the climate challenge. Continue reading RE-Energising the Future: Renewable Energy Solutions Showcased in Paris →