During the second week of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), significant developments in global commitment and action toward renewable energy were witnessed.
COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber unveiled the Global Decarbonization Acceleration (GDA) plan. As of December 11, 130 countries, have signed the Global Commitment to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The commitment aims to double global renewable energy capacity and boost the global average annual energy efficiency rate by 2030, facilitating swift growth in global renewable energy and improved energy efficiency.
In a pivotal side event, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) organized a workshop titled “From Ambition to Action: Driving the Future with Renewable Energy” at COP28’s Panda Corner during the second week. The event brought together representatives from diverse fields, fostering discussions on renewable energy development from policy, technology, and business perspectives.
Zhou Fei, Deputy Director of WWF Beijing Representative Office, delivered an opening speech emphasizing the universal need for support in utilizing green electricity. He outlined a target for China to achieve 1 kilowatt of non-hydropower renewable energy capacity per person by 2030, stressing that carbon reduction should be part of a broader strategy that includes a swift transition to clean, renewable energy.
Keynote speeches were given by Zhang Jian, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University, and He Di, General Manager of JA Solar Technology in Africa.
Zhang Jian analyzed the challenges and opportunities of achieving carbon neutrality, advocating for clear roles of technology at both domestic and international levels. He Di introduced the Reference Guide for Zero-Carbon Factory Construction, a collaboration between JA Solar Technology and WWF, emphasizing its importance in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Prominent participants, including Liu Qiang of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Zeng Shaojun of the New Energy Chamber of Commerce, Lu Tao of Genesol (Beijing) Technology, and Mei Xuming of HEMA (China), discussed topics such as opportunities and challenges in renewable energy. Helena Spiritus, Global Head of Oil and Gas Transition at WWF, moderated the discussion.
Liu Qiang stressed the importance of practical actions in promoting renewable energy business models and sharing successful experiences with developing countries. Zeng Shaojun highlighted China’s shift from “dual control of energy consumption” to “dual control of carbon emissions.”
Lu Tao shared corporate climate ambitions, emphasizing setting emission reduction goals, effective communication, and collaboration. Mei Xuming addressed challenges in agriculture, emphasizing the need for low-cost technologies and sustainable practices.
COP28 serves as a pivotal opportunity for global green transformation, highlighted by the signing of the “Global Commitment to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.” WWF remains devoted to advocating and promoting widespread use of renewable energy, contributing to the establishment of a clean, sustainable future.
