The president of the ongoing 28th meeting of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28), Sultan Al-Jaber, on Saturday, said 117 countries have endorsed a commitment to triple the world’s renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The COP28 president made the remark while speaking at the World Climate Action Summit at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate, on Saturday.
He said the countries will “work together” to bring global renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts by the end of the decade.
Mr Al Jaber also noted that the countries are committed to work together in order to collectively double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to more than four percent per year.
However, the commitments are non-binding yet.
“But I do need more, and I’m kindly requesting all parties to come on board as soon as possible please. This can and will help transition the world away from unabated coal,” the COP28 president said.
He also said: “The world will break down if we don’t fix the energies we use today. The world will break down if we don’t mitigate the emissions on a gigaton scale. And the world can potentially break down if we don’t rapidly transition to zero-carbon alternatives.”
Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally replenished and do not run out. It can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and cooling, and transportation.
Transitioning to clean and affordable energy has been one of the pivotal points of this year’s COP conversation. World leaders at COP have been calling for the need to upscale energy transition efforts and sustainable climate financing for vulnerable countries.
Reacting to the development, Global Renewables Alliance described the pledge by the 117 countries as a “historic milestone” in the drive to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
However, the group said it would require transformational action in every region of the world to deliver the fundamental shift in the global energy system that is needed.
“Governments must immediately focus on agreeing unambiguous language in the negotiated outcome text of COP28 and establish a forum for holding governments accountable, which will deliver the market signals to unlock investment,” the group said.
It said action and accountability must be the next steps if the pledge is to deliver on its high ambitions.
“117 countries committing to tripling global renewables by 2030 is a huge achievement at COP28. This pledge signals the start of a new energy paradigm and a once in a generation opportunity to transition to a clean, secure and just energy system,” Bruce Douglas, CEO of Global Renewables Alliance, said.
He emphasized that countries now need to turn the ambition into action and hold policy makers accountable to deliver on their commitments.
“To get there, we need the tripling to be reflected in updated NDCs, with increased national targets and rapid implementation across the key enablers,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, UAE, said Nigeria is taking a significant step towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future, which will inspire nations worldwide.
The President spoke at a high-level meeting with stakeholders and investors on the Nigeria Carbon Market and Electric Buses Rollout Programme on the margins of the COP28 climate summit.
President Tinubu explained that the strategic initiative is aimed at significantly reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint and modernizing the country’s transportation systems.
He said the initiative, which has seen to the deployment of a fleet of 100 electric buses, was part of a larger effort to position Nigeria and Africa as the pioneering frontier of green manufacturing and industrialization with a focus on natural gas as a transition fuel alongside other renewable energy sources.
To spearhead this transformative plan, the President announced the appointment of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mr. Dahiru Salisu, to co-chair the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan.
President Bola Tinubu further promised on Saturday that Nigeria will rollout 100 electric buses in a step towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
The “pioneering initiative” is to “significantly” reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint and modernise the country’s transportation systems,” Tinubu said in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the margins of the COP28 climate summit.
”This initiative stands as a testament to our dedication to environmental stewardship as clearly exemplified through our collaboration with the Africa Carbon Market Initiative.
Our visionary plan is a strategic guidepost, directing Nigeria towards becoming an investment-friendly destination for carbon market investments,” presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale quoted his principal as saying.
”We recognize the imperative of fostering an environment that not only attracts investment but also upholds standardized and sustainable industrial practices.
As a manifestation of our forward-thinking approach, we are actively looking to implement robust, enabling policies and frameworks that will serve as the catalyst for the burgeoning growth of the carbon market within our national borders.”
President Tinubu also appointed the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Zacch Adedeji and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) Dahiru Salisu to co-chair the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan.
While the move is part of efforts to position Nigeria and Africa as the pioneering frontier of green manufacturing and industrialization, Tinubu is urging other countries on the continent to follow suit.
”As we unveil our initiatives, I challenge other nations to emulate our strides in mapping out their sustainable futures with a clear understanding that Africa is a beacon of innovative solutions to climate-related challenges,” he said.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s “plans for a greener and cleaner economy can serve as an inspirational narrative for nations worldwide”.
“Our comprehensive approach, rooted in visionary leadership and pragmatic action supported by our technical partners, is poised to become a blueprint for countries aspiring to also develop and catalyze their markets for sustainable growth,” the president added.
We therefore, urge the Country’s leadership to take advantage of the occasion of COP28 on the World Climate Action Summit at Dubai, the United Arab Emirate to initiate actionable climatic policies for a better Nigerian nation.
