The global wind energy sector has released a manifesto calling on governments to get serious about the energy transition and to work with the private sector to rapidly scale up wind and renewable energy installations.
The 90 wind energy companies and associations that contributed to the manifesto say annual wind installations need to scale up by four times the current levels for the world to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The industry believes it has the tools available to achieve these ambitious targets, but needs help from governments to realise more wind installations.
A record 93 GW of wind energy installations were completed in 2020, but growth rates are falling behind a net zero trajectory and will only put the world on track to have 43% of the wind capacity required by 2050.
The manifesto calls for eight actions:
Increase wind power ambition and reflect this in updated Nationally Determined Contributions, comprehensive national climate strategies and long-term energy plans;
Commit to a rapid phase out of coal-based generation;
Design and implement energy markets for the future;
Implement streamlined and sensible permitting schemes for renewable energy projects to accelerate deployment and minimise project attrition;
Initiate plans to rapidly build out clean energy grids and charging stations for electric vehicles;
Develop cohesive and inclusive policies which dedicate public resources to the people-centred shift to a net zero economy;
Align national and regional finance flows with benchmarks for a net zero, 1.5 °C-compliant pathway; and
Advance voluntary cooperation on carbon pricing under Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris agreement.
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), which led the drafting of the manifesto, says the renewables industry is already contributing towards the decarbonisation of the global power sector.
Wind power helps avoid 1.1-billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year and provides more than 1.2-million jobs around the world.
The manifesto urges governments to work with industry to enact a shift in energy and economic policymaking to a climate emergency approach.
“The recent volatility in global energy markets shows the importance of moving decisively to phase out coal and other fossil-fuel-based generation and create energy markets that are fit for purpose for a clean and sustainable future,” says GWEC CEO Ben Backwell.