COP26 Manifesto published: Finally "get serious"

The wind energy industry has released a manifesto just before the start of the global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow, calling on governments to take energy transition seriously and work with the private sector to accelerate the expansion of wind and renewable energy.

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing energy sources in the world, with a record 93 gigawatts of installations by 2020, but according to IRENA and IEA energy institutes, the global community is only reaching 43% of the wind energy capacity needed by 2050 at current growth rates. To meet climate targets, annual wind energy installations worldwide would have to quadruple within the next ten years.

To draw attention to this situation, more than 90 of the world's leading wind energy companies have come together under the leadership of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), including manufacturers, supply chain players, investors and industry associations from around the world.

The eight actions being called for include:

1. Increase wind power ambition and reflect this in updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), comprehensive national climate strategies and long-term energy plans.
2. Commit to rapid phase out of coal-based generation now.
3. Design and implement energy markets for the future.
4. Implement streamlined and sensible permitting schemes for renewable energy projects to accelerate deployment and minimise project attrition.
5. Initiate plans to rapidly build out clean energy grids and charging stations for electric vehicles.
6. Develop cohesive and inclusive policies which dedicate public resource to the people-centred shift to a net zero economy.
7. Align national and regional finance flows with benchmarks for a net zero, 1.5°C-compliant pathway.
8. Advance voluntary cooperation on carbon pricing under articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris agreement.

The renewable energy sector is already contributing to the decarbonisation of the global power sector, but needs supportive policy frameworks to grow faster. The manifesto calls on governments to work with the industry to bring about a shift in energy and economic policy towards a "climate emergency" approach.

Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO, 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. 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 the industry's largest companies, including Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Goldwind, Mingyang, Nordex Acciona, Iberdrola, ENEL, SSE, Orsted, EDP Renovables, Equinor, Mainstream Renewable Power, Green Investment Group and DNV, as well as industry associations from Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and Africa, including China, thr US, India and the UK.