COP26 Updates

The Renewable Energy Institute is proud to report on the outcomes of the highly anticipated COP26 Conference in Glasgow as they unfold. Visit this page for regular COP26 updates, and for information on how each nation is pledging to reach its mid-century targets for decarbonisation and net-zero.

12th November – COP26 Day 12 – Closure of Negotiations

As the COP26 summit draws to a close on the final day of negotiations, countries from around the world are making pledges to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels and to work towards decarbonisation. Renewable Energy Technologies have been at the forefront of the conference over the last two weeks, and today is no different, with a particular focus on Renewable Energy Solutions to solve climate change consequences.

• A further draft text agreement was published. There is contention amongst countries on the wording of the agreement where fossil fuels are concerned, with some believing the current wording is “not strong enough.”
• 1.5-degree target is a “matter of life or death” for Africa. A representative for Kenya today delivered a powerful speech discussing the devastating effects of climate change on Africa, citing crop failures and droughts.
• A spokesperson from Saudi Arabia today said the draft agreement is “workable.”
• Discussions are due to carry on into the weekend with further updates on final negotiations expected over the next few days.

In line with the final draft agreement published by the UN at COP26, the Renewable Energy Institute is proud to provide expert-led Renewable Energy training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org

11^th November – COP26 Day 11 – Cities, Regions and Built Environments

The penultimate day of discussions focused on how we can construct and build up cities within the parameters of climate change targets. It is projected that 68% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 and so this is an important area to focus on if we are to reach the desired outcomes. Renewable Energy Technologies will play a crucial part in this, as will a focus on Energy Efficiency within existing infrastructure.

Key takeaways from the day:

• China and the United States announced a deal to work together to cut emissions over the next 10 years. As some of the world’s biggest economies (and emitters), this is a positive step forward and shows nations putting differences aside to focus on the matter at hand.
• Discussion over the draft text agreement continued, with general consensus being that it does not go far enough. Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres echoed this when he said he believed there was an overall lack of ambition at the summit.
• However, we must remain positive, analysis of pledges from the last few days suggests that we are now 9% closer to maintaining 1.5 degrees.
• Evidence suggests that the world’s military and its suppliers produce 6% of all global emissions, yet up to and including now, they have been exempt from being a part of any decarbonisation targets.

A capable and well-trained workforce will be required to put in place the changes needed to make our cities more climate friendly. Be part of this change and explore the wide range of courses we can offer in Renewable Energy Technology and Energy Efficiency today.

10^th November – COP26 Day 10 – Transport

As international lawmakers, business leaders, and delegates convene in Glasgow for the final week of the COP26 summit, discussions are focused on accelerating climate action and limiting global temperature rise, with a particular emphasis on transport. It is clear that Renewable Energy Technologies, particularly involving Electric Vehicles and the production of Green Hydrogen, will be of paramount importance in the near future to help us reach decarbonisation. See the key highlights of today’s summit below:

• The UN’s climate agency released the first draft of its “cover decision” – a document that countries will issue at the end of COP26 outlining how they will deal with the consequences of climate change, and how they will finance solutions.
• Road transport accounts for 17% of global emissions, and its emissions are rising faster than other sectors.
• Volvo, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover and China’s BYD have pledged to phase out the production of fossil-fuel vehicles globally by 2040.
• The British hosts of the UN climate summit today proposed that countries raise their ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2022 – nations are due to negotiate over this in the coming days.

In line with today’s objectives surrounding the reduction of climate change consequences and lowering global emissions, the Renewable Energy Institute is proud to provide expert-led Renewable Energy training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org

9^th November – COP26 Day 9 – Gender / Science and Innovation

Today’s discussions had a lot of ground to cover with a dual focus on both gender and innovation. The highly-anticipated results of the Climate Action Tracker were also released. The results of this show how important it is that the world embraces Renewable Energy Technologies to deliver on the targets already in place, as quickly as possible.

Key takeaways from the day:

• The Climate Action Tracker revealed that temperature rises will top 2.4C by the year 2100, based on the short-term goals agreed so far at COP26. The estimate based on long-term goals remains around 1.8-1.9 degrees.
• A U.N. Development Program report estimated that 80% of people displaced by climate change are women.
• Some of the world’s largest car manufacturers have reportedly refused to sign a deal to end sales of new cars that run on fossil fuels by 2040.
• The UK pledged to reduce the emissions of the health system by 2050 at the latest. Some of the devolved nations have revealed plans to reach Net Zero in this area sooner. The world’s health systems reportedly account for 4.6% of overall greenhouse gas emissions.

As the world turns to Renewable Energy Technologies to avoid irreparable damage and make climate pledges and targets a reality, Industry Experts with the most up to date knowledge will be highly sought after. Become an Expert in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency with our accredited training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org

8^th November – COP26 Day 8 – Adaptation, Loss and Damage

The second week of COP26 began with a focus on climate consequences. Delegates discussed the changing climate, and how efforts to adapt so far have been underfunded. They also highlighted the inevitable results of human-caused climate change, loss and damage. Renewable Energy Training and Management will play a significant part in helping us to overcome the challenge of climate change. Read on for the key highlights of the summit today:  

• Negotiators from nearly 200 countries have discussed an agreement that could shape how nations report progress on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, as well as how the rich countries of the world will deliver on promises to help more vulnerable nations.
• Former president Barack Obama made a speech to tell the summit “Time is really running out” to tackle climate change. He warned keeping the 1.5C target “is going to be hard”, but said: “If we stay with it, we will get this done.“
• The President went on to say “Despite four years of active hostility toward climate science”, Americans and the rest of the world have stuck by the agreement. “As the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the U.S. has to lead, we have enormous responsibilities… and we still have a lot of work to do.”

The consequences of man-made climate change are significant, and the world needs large-scale, effective Renewable Energy projects to tackle them. To find out more about how you can play your part in the Green Revolution, email us at training@renewableinstitute.org

6^th November – COP26 Day 7 – Nature

As 100,000 people marched in Glasgow on Saturday to demonstrate against climate action, the COP26 Summit continued for its seventh day, where nature was at the heart of discussions. With a continued focus on Renewable Energy Technologies, delivering on the Paris Agreement, and keeping 1.5 degrees within reach, delegates from around the world discussed how governments, organisations, and individuals can drive the transition to more sustainable land and ocean management. The talks centred around restoring and preserving nature, and reforms in the food and farming industries. Here are the key highlights:

• British actor Idris Elba, who is a UN Goodwill Ambassador, used his fame to highlight the role of small-scale farmers, who produce 80 per cent of food consumed globally.
• 45 countries made a pledge on Saturday for “urgent action and investment to protect nature and shift to more sustainable ways of farming.”
• The 45 countries pledged also to “leverage over $4 billion of new public sector investment into agricultural innovation.”
• 95 high profile organisations from a range of sectors commit to being ‘Nature Positive’, agreeing to work towards halting and reversing the decline of nature by 2030.
• Germany plans to lower emissions from land use by 25m tonnes by 2030.
• The UK pledged to engage 75% of farmers in low carbon practices by 2030.

As we transition to a greener, more eco-focused world, individuals with Renewable Energy training will be needed to implement large-scale projects. Become an Expert in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency with our accredited training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org

5^th November – COP26 Day 6 – Youth Empowerment

The aim of today was to provide young people with a suitable platform at the conference and to make sure their voices are heard going forward. A recent survey carried out by the Renewable Energy Institute showed that younger generations are incredibly engaged in the topics of Renewable Energy and Green Technologies. It is crucial that they are provided with the opportunity to campaign for their futures and voice their opinions. It is also extremely important that they have access to training should they wish to make a career for themselves in the Renewable Energy sector. The Renewable Energy Institute is proud to provide a wide range of Accredited courses in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency that allow flexible study around your existing commitments.

Day 6 also placed a joint focus on nature and land use, which will carry on throughout Day 7. Today’s discussions were focused on protecting our oceans.

Key takeaways from the day:

• It was revealed that the $100 billion Climate Aid Target promised to developing nations will be given next year, rather than in 2023 as announced earlier in the conference. This should help these countries move away from fossil fuels and towards Renewable Energy Technologies earlier than planned.
• Updated UN analysis shows that global carbon emissions are set to increase by 13.7% by 2030. This is 16% less than before pledges were announced in the first days of COP26. However, a 50% decrease on emissions is needed to ensure temperatures do not rise above 1.5 degrees.
• It was made clear that luxury carbon consumption of the top 1%, including the use of private jets and space travel, puts the 1.5 degree target at risk.
• A Blue Finance roundtable was held to look at how to safeguard oceans amidst climate change.
• A four ton block of ice, previously part of a glacier in Greenland, has arrived in Glasgow as a warning against rising sea levels due to climate change.

In line with today’s focus on youth, the Renewable Energy Institute was proud to hold a joint event, along with Centro Studi Galileo, as part of the #Allforclimate Italy Pre COP schedule. This official COP26 side-event was also held in conjunction with UNESCO and Terre Policy Centre and provided expert presentations on the role of younger generations in addressing climate change.
We warmly invite you to view the presentations here.

4^th November – COP26 Day 5 – Energy

With Renewable Energy Technologies at the forefront of everyone’s mind, the world leaders continue negotiations today with the focus on moving forward with agreements to phase out the use of coal and transition to clean energy. More than 40 countries overall have agreed to phase out their use of coal-fired power by 2040.

Key takeaways from the day:

• Change is possible! Since the Paris Agreement six years ago there has been a 76% drop in the number of new coal plants, which equates to the cancellation of more than 1000GW of new coal plants.
• At least 23 countries have made new commitments today to phase out coal power. 5 of these countries (South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Poland, and Ukraine) make up the world’s top 20 coal power-using countries.
• Financial support for new coal power plants will be discontinued.
• Banks and financial institutions also made landmark commitments at COP26 today to end the funding of unabated coal, including major international lenders like HSBC, Fidelity International and Ethos. 
• The South Africa Just Energy Transition Partnership could prevent 1-1.5Gt of emissions over the next 20 years in South Africa, equal to three times annual UK emissions.
• 28 new members including Chile and Singapore, signed up to The Powering Past Coal Alliance, co-chaired by the UK and Canada, taking the total to 160 members.

As the world phases out coal-powered energy, individuals with knowledge in Renewable Energy will be sought after more than ever. Become an Expert in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency with our accredited training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org

3rd November – COP26 Day 4 – Finance

On Day 3 of COP26 the discussion turned to finance and how the world will pay for the Renewable Energy Technologies and Green Initiatives needed to make the goals of the Paris Agreement a reality by 2050. Mobilising public and private finance has always been one of the main objectives of the conference, as well as placing a focus on helping developing countries reach Net Zero targets at the same time as wealthier countries.

Today leaders announced a number of financial packages that will directly benefit the Renewable Energy sector by helping countries move away from fossil fuels.

Key takeaways from the day:

• South Africa will receive $8.5 billion in aid to allow them to move away from coal and towards renewable forms of energy.
• The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero revealed they will contribute $130 trillion of private funds to enable the transition to clean energy across the globe.
• Rishi Sunak hopes to “rewire the entire financial system” in order to protect the climate. He claimed that the UK will become the world’s first ever Net Zero aligned financial centre, making it mandatory for businesses to set out their plans towards decarbonisation.
• Alok Sharma stated that the $100 billion Climate Aid target will be met by 2023.
• The US pledged to quadruple their international climate finance for developing countries to $11 billion.
• 80% of the world’s economy has now reportedly committed to Net Zero targets. However, key players such as Russia, China and India have chosen not to commit to crucial initiatives to reduce methane emissions by 30% by the end of this decade.
• A new climate model from The University of Melbourne, based on the progress of COP26 so far, suggests we are now heading for a 1.9 degree temperature rise in the next century. This is far from the target of 1.5 degrees previously set out, but provides hope of staying under 2 degrees. As Boris Johnson stated before leaving the summit, “we have a long way to go.”

With the growth in financial packages being made available to the Renewable Energy Sector, we can expect to see an increase in Renewable Energy jobs. Find out how you can upskill and advance your career by studying the REI’s Accredited Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency training programmes by clicking here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org.

2nd November – COP26 Day 3 – World Leader’s Summit

Day 2 of COP26 has seen continued discussion from world leaders on how they can assist the fight to end climate change and transition to a zero-carbon world through various Renewable Energy technologies. The High Ambition Coalition has called on governments to step up their efforts on greenhouse gas emissions and phasing out coal, consistent with a 1.5C limit, and urged rich nations to double the amount of climate finance they make available for poor countries to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis. They also want to bring an end to subsidies for fossil fuels.

These measures will be of significant benefit to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sectors as we strive towards a low-carbon world fuelled with Green Electricity from a variety of sustainable sources.

Key takeaways from the day:

• Klaus Werner Iohannis, president of Romania, pledged to expand the countries production of electricity coming from renewable sources. “We will expand this and fight climate change with nature-based solutions.”
• Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, reveals that Greenland has halted all new oil and gas exploration and that soon 90% of the country’s electricity will be sustainably sourced.
• Pension funds in the Nordic countries and UK have announced they will invest $130bn in clean energy and climate projects by 2030. As part of this commitment, the funds will also report every year on the progress of their climate investments.
• The Biden administration unveiled pledges to cut methane production— a key greenhouse gas — in the nation’s oil and gas operations.
• More than 100 world leaders representing over 85 percent of the world’s forests pledged to halt deforestation over the next decade.
• Many young activists attending the summit have expressed frustration with the long-term targets presented by government officials, expressing resistance to pledges of reaching net-zero by 2050, 2060 or 2070. They feel it’s delaying matters too far.

In line with COP26 aims and objectives, the Renewable Energy Institute is proud to provide leading Accredited Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org.

1st November – COP26 Day 2 – World Leader’s Summit

COP26 welcomes World leaders and delegates from around the globe for the first day of the World Leader’s Summit. National leaders, including Boris Johnson and Joe Biden, have given statements on their commitments towards net-zero and carbon neutrality.

You can view the opening ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oofxDQQKE7M

As the speeches progress, over 1 million people have signed an open letter from climate outlining 5 demands made to delegates at the conference:

• Keep the precious goal of 1.5C alive with immediate, drastic, annual emission reductions.
• End all fossil fuel investments, subsidies, and new projects immediately, and stop new exploration and extraction.
• End ‘creative’ carbon accounting by publishing total emissions for all consumption indices, supply chains, international aviation and shipping, and the burning of biomass.
• Deliver the $100bn promised to the most vulnerable countries, with additional funds for climate disasters.
• Enact climate policies that protect workers and the most vulnerable, and reduce all forms of inequality.

To find out more about what we can all do when it comes to COP26 targets, read our latest article.

In line with COP26 aims and objectives, the Renewable Energy Institute is proud to provide leading Accredited Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency training programmes. To find out more about the courses, click here, or email us at training@renewableinstitute.org.