As today marks the official deadline for updated national climate plans (NDCs), the Global Renewables Alliance is urging governments worldwide to set ambitious, specific, and investible renewable energy targets in their plans.
Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, emphasized the importance of carefully crafted plans: “Governments still have time to get this right – it is better to have good plans than fast plans. The private sector is ready to invest in renewables, but we need clear policy signals through ambitious, long-term energy plans.”
The call for stronger commitments comes as the renewable energy sector continues to show significant growth. Since the introduction of NDCs in 2015, renewables have dominated new power capacity, now accounting for over 30% of global electricity generation. Battery costs have decreased by 90%, and energy transition investments surpassed $2 trillion in 2024. However, despite this progress, the investment curve is flattening, and current national plans will only achieve half of the renewable energy growth needed by 2030.
Douglas cautioned, “Weak commitments mean falling behind in the booming clean energy economy.” Without robust, long-term frameworks, the global energy targets needed to curb climate change may remain out of reach, and further investment may slow.
“Strong NDCs mean strong economies,” said Gonzalo Saenz de Miera, Director of Climate Change and Alliances at Iberdrola. He added, “Countries that set clear renewable energy targets will attract investment, create jobs, and secure their place in the global clean energy transition.”
While some nations, including the UK and Brazil, have submitted updated NDCs, many of the 195 signatories to the Paris Agreement are still finalizing their plans. The private sector, through the Global Renewables Alliance, is calling on governments to “use this time wisely,” ensuring that the plans are both ambitious and actionable to match the scale of the clean energy opportunity.
“All major economies should take the lead and set their targets well before the UN General Assembly in September 2025,” said Douglas, suggesting that doing so would ignite a global race to the top in climate ambition.
Michael Hannibal, Partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, noted that renewable energy offers the fastest and cheapest route to new power capacity, stating, “With energy demand rapidly surging, ambitious and actionable NDCs are the most direct pathway for countries to deliver reliable and affordable energy to consumers and industry while bolstering domestic growth and job creation.
Morten Dyrholm, Senior Vice President at Vestas, also underscored the importance of renewable energy in ensuring reliable and affordable energy systems. He said, “More renewables will ensure that our energy systems are secure, affordable and reliable. Without decisive action and a strong focus on sustainable implementation, we will be left with only ambitions.
Over 200 organizations are backing the call for governments to deliver on ambitious and actionable renewable energy targets in their updated NDCs, as part of the ongoing efforts to meet climate goals.
