Energy transformation mitigates climate change, increases energy access, and meets global sustainable development goals
Hundreds of governments, businesses, and cities are making strong commitments to accelerate the energy transition. Recognising that transformation of the global energy system forms the backbone of climate action, they joined forces under a set of major cooperative initiatives that were launched or presented during the Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) Focus on Energy on 7 December at the COP21. With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goal 7 on energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy access, the international community set itself a clear roadmap towards a clean energy, sustainable future.
At the COP21, many activities are presented and several initiatives are launched to accelerate this dynamic, including the following:
- 100 partners have launched the Global Alliance for Building and Construction during the first ever Buildings day.
- The Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) was launched to achieve a 500% increase in global installed capacity for geothermal power generation and a 200% increase for geothermal heating by 2030.
- India and France launched an International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) announced its ambitious plans for deployment of renewable energy in Africa.
- A new series of memoranda of understanding on sustainable energy was signed between African countries, the European Union, interested Member States and other interested donors.
- Countries, regions, cities and companies announced that they are going 100% renewable.
- Hundreds of governments, businesses and financial institutions pledged major action on energy efficiency.
- Through the En.Lighten and Clean Energy Ministerial Global Lighting Challenge, more than 70 countries agreed to phase out incandescent bulbs and promote the most efficient lighting technologies such as LED.
- More than 100 banks and a group of Investors, managing close to US$ 4 trillion in assets, have committed to a major increase in energy efficiency lending in their portfolios.
For further information, please read the relevant LPAA press release.
