Renewable energy must play a major role in the global energy supply to
meet the increasingly serious environmental and economic threats of
climate change, according to a new report from the Renewable Energy
Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).
‘Changing Climates’, the Role of Renewable Energy in a
Carbon-Constrained World' cites an “emerging consensus” in both the
scientific and political communities that a global warming limit of 2oC
above pre-industrial levels can avoid the most serious climate change
threats. But, the report adds, this level can only be reached with major
long-term emission reductions from many different and combined options,
including larger renewable energy markets, efficiency improvements, and
fossil fuels that are much cleaner than those on which the world’s US$60
trillion economy currently depends.
REN21 released "Changing Climates" at their side event held in Dubai, Wednesday 8 February, with the participation of Mr. John Christensen (UNEP RISØ Centre), Hon. Ms. Connie Hedegaard (Danish Minister for Environment), Mr. Klaus Töpfer (UNEP Executive Director), Mr. Peter Tulej (IEA), and Mr. Paul Suding (REN21 Secretariat).
The report’s lead author, John Christensen from the UNEP Risoe Centre on
Climate, Energy and Sustainable Development, says that many renewable
energy technologies have “moved from being a passion for the dedicated
few to a major economic sector attracting large industrial companies and
financial institutions”.
However, basic policy questions remain, including the need to ensure
technical progress, overcome implementation barriers, and accelerate the
shift to renewable energy. “Although there are many good political,
economic and social reasons for stimulating a more rapid development of
renewable energy – not the least of which is climate change - the sector
is hampered by a number of market distortions and institutional,
financial, and economic barriers,” says Christensen.
‘Changing Climates’ follows the release of the ‘REN21 Global Status
Report’ that found that US$30 billion was invested in the renewable
energy sector in 2004, which contributes 160 GW, or approximately 4% of
global power capacity. To significantly increase this investment and
contribution, ‘Changing Climates’ says economic policy instruments can
quickly improve the cost-competitiveness of renewable energy systems and
technologies. The report uses a range of different “scenario” analysis
form the International Energy Agency and other institutions to show how
national and regional strategies can help to grow the renewable energy
sector and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Using economic policy instruments, such as renewable energy targets and
tax incentives can be an effective strategy to stimulate change and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in energy markets that are increasingly
deregulated and market orientated,” Christensen says, citing the
evolving experiences with carbon finance and emissions trading as
promising longer-term incentives for developing renewable energy
markets.
One of the report’s conclusions is that specific policy tools need to
fit local circumstances, but significant experience is already available
in both developed and developing countries to guide the use of these
policies. With the current and predicted cost competitiveness of many
renewable energy technologies, however, it is not necessary to wait for
strengthened global agreements before taking action at the national
level.
‘Changing Climates’ was launched on Wednesday 8 February at a REN21 side
event at the 9th Special Session of UNEP’s Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum, which took place in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates. The launch of the report coincides with the opening of a new
REN21 secretariat office, headed by Paul Suding and supported by UNEP
and GTZ, the German Technical Cooperation. The new office is housed in
the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics in Paris.
In his address to the Network, UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer
thanked the German government and other partners for the progress made
in establishing the Network, and reconfirmed the support of UNEP to
REN21. He emphasized the possibilities of renewable energies to provide
decentralised energy access as a prerequisite for reaching the
Millennium Development Goals.
Danish Environment Minister Connie Hedegaard, who had invited the
Network’s Steering Committee to Copenhagen for the official launch of
REN21 in June of last year, welcomed the opening of the Secretariat in
Paris. She underlined the need for a speedy expansion of renewable
energies in order to assure a sustainable energy supply against the
background of climate change: “The task is now to make it work fast”.
Piotr Tulej of the International Energy Agency underscored the
importance of politics in ensuring the „spectacular” growth rates of the
past years, and the need for long-term research and development in the
future.
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