COP27 | Seven key reads from the Sharm el-Sheikh summit so far
Sharp warnings of woefully inadequate responses to climate change keeping the planet on course for “catastrophic” temperature rises were fresh in the mind as COP27 sprang into action on Sunday. We picked 11 reasons for cheer – and a few for fear – as the world faces up to its existential environmental challenge.
The EU made good use of COP27 to bolster its green hydrogen supply options. While European Commission (EC) president Ursula von der Leyen was busily shoring up potential green hydrogen suppliers, deals were being put in place with several prospective renewable H2-producing nations.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) urged world leaders to “close the renewable deployment gap” or fail to meet the Paris agreement goal of keeping global temperature increase to 1.5°C.
“At a time when we desperately need to see rapid implementation, I call on world leaders to urgently close the renewable deployment gap in pursuit of resilience, energy security and inclusive economies,” Irena director-general Francesco La Camera said, launching a new report that highlighted only 12 countries have so far committed to a percentage of renewables in their overall energy mixes.
Standing ‘on the right side of history’ is insufficient as a driver of change. We need to explore what it means to be a 'hero' to find solutions to the challenges posed by the climate emergency. Strong words and stronger actions proposed by Rana Adib, the executive director of international policy network REN21.
Abid, in an exclusive opionion column, said the world needed to explore uncommon pathways to accelerate the energy transitions, such as addressing the massive skills gap in renewable energy by mandating the military to install heat pumps and PV panels, and to build up grids.
Abu Dhabi-headquartered renewables developer Masdar revealed plans to build a 10GW wind farm in Egypt. The new project is the largest yet planned in its global portfolio and would be among the biggest in the world. UAE industry minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “The scale of this megaproject is a testament to the renewable energy ambitions of the UAE and the Republic of Egypt.”
US, Japan, Germany, UK and five other countries signed up to new industry body backed by Irena and the Globlal Wind Energy Council. Mads Nipper, CEO of Orsted, said: “Offshore wind power has the scale to accelerate the build-out of renewables and bring benefits to both our planet, our economy, and local communities – while enhancing energy security.”