UN development program confident clean energy will grow furt
Mar 4, 2024 23:26:19 GMT -5
Post by account_disabled on Mar 4, 2024 23:26:19 GMT -5
UN development program confident clean energy will grow further in 2021
Despite the fact that the world is not on track to meet climate goals and specifically achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 : Ensure access to affordable, safe, sustainable and modern energy. Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP, stated that “ there are clean energy solutions that can get us there .”
There is growing momentum to make them political and investment priorities.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Smart investment
Fossil fuels used to be less expensive than clean energy, but that is changing, according to Mr. Alers. Renewables are becoming more affordable every year, and “some options are now cheaper than fossil fuels,” he said, noting that since 2010, the price of solar energy has decreased by 89%.
It is now cheaper to turn to solar energy than to build Chile Mobile Number List new coal-fired power plants in most countries, and solar energy is now the cheapest electricity in history.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Furthermore, in the midst of an exceptionally difficult year, and despite suffering setbacks, the renewable energy sector has demonstrated resilience.
This drop in prices, coupled with technological progress and the introduction of innovative business models, means that we are now at an inflection point.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
He also invited large-scale investment in clean energy from the public and private sectors.
Putting promises into action
Throughout 2020, countries have committed to building back better, greener and fairer. According to Alers, with the support of the UNDP Climate Pledge, 115 countries committed to submit enhanced nationally determined contributions.
Among other things, he noted that high-emitting economies such as China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the European Union had made net zero commitments and that the President-elect of the United States of America, Joe Biden, had promised to rejoin the Paris Agreement.
These commitments must now be turned into action. Ambitious commitments are a strong signal and a necessary first step to achieving net zero emissions. Now we have to build on them.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Green recovery
Clean energy is also a win-win solution for recovering from COVID-19, as it can improve healthcare for the world's poorest, while providing a reliable electricity supply, essential for healthcare facilities to function.
As COVID-19 vaccines (some of which must be stored at -70°C) become more widespread, a sustainable and reliable cold chain will be essential.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Furthermore, investment in renewable energy could create almost three times as many jobs as investment in fossil fuels.
As the world is rapidly urbanizing, energy efficiency in buildings, sustainable cooling and heating, smart urban planning and sustainable transport options… are critical for the future of cities.
In September, for the first time in 40 years, the UN will host a High-Level Energy Dialogue for countries, businesses, civil society and international institutions to step up action on sustainable energy.
UN-Energy and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner recently called for strengthening global energy governance, saying “ we know that clean energy can provide universal access to energy and help address the climate crisis .”
Although phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to green economies is a monumental task, Mr. Alers assured that “ we are prepared to meet the challenge.
Despite the fact that the world is not on track to meet climate goals and specifically achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 : Ensure access to affordable, safe, sustainable and modern energy. Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP, stated that “ there are clean energy solutions that can get us there .”
There is growing momentum to make them political and investment priorities.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Smart investment
Fossil fuels used to be less expensive than clean energy, but that is changing, according to Mr. Alers. Renewables are becoming more affordable every year, and “some options are now cheaper than fossil fuels,” he said, noting that since 2010, the price of solar energy has decreased by 89%.
It is now cheaper to turn to solar energy than to build Chile Mobile Number List new coal-fired power plants in most countries, and solar energy is now the cheapest electricity in history.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Furthermore, in the midst of an exceptionally difficult year, and despite suffering setbacks, the renewable energy sector has demonstrated resilience.
This drop in prices, coupled with technological progress and the introduction of innovative business models, means that we are now at an inflection point.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
He also invited large-scale investment in clean energy from the public and private sectors.
Putting promises into action
Throughout 2020, countries have committed to building back better, greener and fairer. According to Alers, with the support of the UNDP Climate Pledge, 115 countries committed to submit enhanced nationally determined contributions.
Among other things, he noted that high-emitting economies such as China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the European Union had made net zero commitments and that the President-elect of the United States of America, Joe Biden, had promised to rejoin the Paris Agreement.
These commitments must now be turned into action. Ambitious commitments are a strong signal and a necessary first step to achieving net zero emissions. Now we have to build on them.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Green recovery
Clean energy is also a win-win solution for recovering from COVID-19, as it can improve healthcare for the world's poorest, while providing a reliable electricity supply, essential for healthcare facilities to function.
As COVID-19 vaccines (some of which must be stored at -70°C) become more widespread, a sustainable and reliable cold chain will be essential.
Marcel Alers, Head of Energy at UNDP.
Furthermore, investment in renewable energy could create almost three times as many jobs as investment in fossil fuels.
As the world is rapidly urbanizing, energy efficiency in buildings, sustainable cooling and heating, smart urban planning and sustainable transport options… are critical for the future of cities.
In September, for the first time in 40 years, the UN will host a High-Level Energy Dialogue for countries, businesses, civil society and international institutions to step up action on sustainable energy.
UN-Energy and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner recently called for strengthening global energy governance, saying “ we know that clean energy can provide universal access to energy and help address the climate crisis .”
Although phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to green economies is a monumental task, Mr. Alers assured that “ we are prepared to meet the challenge.