The wind power industry has called on governments around the world to “get serious” about the energy transition and work with the private sector to rapidly scale up wind and renewable energy installations.
The call was led by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) with support from over 90 of the world’s leading wind energy companies in a manifesto released at the BNEF London summit.
The manifesto urges countries to increase wind power ambition and reflect this in updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), comprehensive national climate strategies and long-term energy plans.
It also said there should be a commitment to rapidly phase out of coal-based generation now, design and implement energy markets for the future, and implement streamlined and sensible permitting schemes for renewable energy projects to accelerate deployment and minimise project attrition.
Other calls include initiate plans to rapidly build out clean energy grids and charging stations for electric vehicles, develop cohesive and inclusive policies which dedicate public resource to the people-centred shift to a net zero economy, and align national and regional finance flows with benchmarks for a net zero, 1.5°C-compliant pathway.
The manifesto also called for advance voluntary cooperation on carbon pricing under articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris agreement.
GWEC chief executive Ben Backwell said: “Governments must respond decisively to the current climate emergency to ensure a viable future for current and future generations.
“Achieving a rapid transition from fossil fuels is a key part of the solution.
“This manifesto sets out the meaningful actions that governments need to carry out to realise the energy transition.
“Governments need to aim higher and deeper – updating their NDCs to drive real change, cutting red tape and streamline permitting proceedures, and supporting vital investments in infrastructure.
“The recent volatility in global energy markets shows the importance of moving decisively to phase out of coal and other fossil fuel based generation and create energy markets which are fit for purpose for a clean and sustainable future.”
Signatories to the manifesto include Vestas, Siemens-Gamesa, Goldwind, Mingyang, Nordex, Iberdrola, ENEL, SSE, Orsted, EDP Renovables, Equinor, Mainstream Renewable Power, Green Investment Group and DNV.