In a landmark development at COP28 in Dubai, the final agreement's commitment to tripling renewables by 2030 has been warmly received by industry stakeholders. Notably, it marks the first time in COP's history that the conclusive text explicitly recognizes the pivotal role of solar and wind technologies in achieving climate targets. The Global Solar Council acknowledges this as a significant triumph for the renewables sector and climate action. However, it remains cautious, highlighting the disparity between mere acknowledgment and concrete actions.
“The final outcomes still lack commitment and deadlines to urgently empower countries to rapidly phase out fossil fuels and replace them with renewables,” warns the Global Solar Council, cautioning against the inclusion of technologies like gas and CCSU as low-carbon or transitional. “Recognizing and calling upon is not the same as acting.”
See also: COP28 Summit in Dubai Seals Historic Deal: Global Commitment to Fossil Fuel Transition
RenewableUK's CEO, Dan McGrail, emphasizes the essential nature of swift fossil fuel transition, not only for net-zero alignment but also for cost-effective electricity generation. “It's good to see the agreement calls for a trebling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and that it specifically states that accelerating action over the course of this decade is critical to reaching our climate change goals.” McGrail notes that while today's agreement is an important milestone, some nations would have preferred a more comprehensive text.
Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, commends the final text for explicitly highlighting wind power, solar, and storage as proven, scalable, and cost-effective technologies for mitigating climate change. “This is a milestone for the wind industry, which has now been recognized as being on the frontlines on the road to net zero.” He stresses the urgency of collaborative efforts to ensure a fair and equitable energy transition, calling for initiatives to unlock finance, streamline permitting, and transform grids.
See also: Global Climate Pledges at COP28 Insufficient to Meet 1.5°C Target, says International Energy Agency
The REA cautiously welcomes the formal call for countries to transition away from fossil fuels. “For the first time in three decades of climate negotiations, the words fossil fuels have featured in a COP outcome, which is indeed a historic moment and emphasizes that the time for renewables is now,” says Dr. Nina Skorupska, REA chief executive. She expresses wariness about nations' varied approaches to action and urges the UK government to integrate the call into domestic policy. “This is absolutely crucial for maintaining any sense of UK leadership on the global stage.”
