The Paris Agreement on climate change agreed on 12 December shows an energy transition commitment towards wind power, according to the European Wind Energy Association.
The EWEA said the agreement shows a “genuine ramp-up of ambition on climate policy – crucially involving all countries for the first time”.
It added: “Delivering the Paris agreement will require a fundamental transformation of the world’s energy systems.”
While current commitments won’t deliver the target of a temperature increase above pre-industrial levels of less than 2 degrees Celsius, let alone the 1.5 degrees C aspirational goal in the agreement, the five-year review process agreed in Paris will enable this ambition to be raised over time, EWEA said.
The EU can play a leading role here, not least with the first-mover advantage it has built up in wind energy.
EWEA chief executive officer Andrew Jamieson said: “This deal is good for the climate, it’s good for the economy and it’s good for business.
“It shows governments are seriously committed about decarbonising the energy sector and moving to renewables such as wind power.
“The European wind industry has a 40% share of wind markets outside Europe today.
“So the INDC commitments on wind could create major new jobs and growth in Europe.
“But to exploit these opportunities the European wind industry will need to keep its competitive edge – and that will require a vibrant home market for wind.”
Image: sxc
