Energy Transition Has Begun towards Near-zero Carbon

The recently concluded International Forum on Energy Transition, held in Suzhou of China, reconfirmed the trend that energy transition has already begun  towards near-zero carbon by end of this century. Energy efficiency is a top priority and supported by substitute of renewable energy or alternative energy. The fossil fuel era enters a dwindling stage.

The 900 participant Forum occurred at a critical moment of time when in a few weeks' time, Paris COP21 will convene the world leaders and negotiators to agree upon a new agreement of actions to address climate change. And shortly after Paris, China takes over the G20 Presidency in 2016.

Energy production and consumption accounts more than a third of emissions of GHGs that trigger climate change. Burning of fossil fuels in a uncontrolled manner has been recognised a major target to address to reduce and prevent continued emissions. If you look at the INDCs submitted by nearly 170 countries now, countries have all agreed that energy efficiency is the lowest cost and most effective first step for energy transition. And development of alternative energy, particularly renewable energy, is the trend of the century in order to provide energy access, that is clean, safe and affordable. 

G20 created a new energy element last year. With the Turkish Presidency, an energy transition tool-kit has been developed to guide and support G20 countries to remove fossil fuel subsidy and fast grow renewable energy. China's Presidency in 2016 is expected to build up the momentum on both fronts. The National Energy Administration has rolled out a schedule of three meetings in 2016 to address the new energy stream - January in Xiamen, April in Hangzhou and June in Beijing. This is expected to raise the momentum and actions among G20 countries to aim higher toward a clean energy revolution.

At the Forum in Suzhou, The Climate Group and its partners welcomed a new member of RE100 - The Broad Group, which becomes the 40th global member of the global campaign of industrial energy users committing to 100% renewable energy in the coming decades.

In the meantime, The Climate Group proposed to the National Energy Administration, which takes charge of the G20 activities in new energy stream, that RE100 and We Mean Business are willing to contribute to the G20 process in 2016 by having business leadership input into the process and speeding up the energy transition take of the corporate community.

We would like to invite more businesses and companies to join our global RE100 Campaign and be part of the solution.