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Global Wind Industry manifesto calls on governments to "get serious" ahead of COP26 and support public and private initiatives to secure the energy transition

LONDON, Oct. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

- Global coalition of more than 90 wind energy companies and associations

releases COP26 Manifesto calling on governments to take eight concrete steps to

get to net zero.

- Annual wind installations need to scale up by four times current levels to

reach net zero by 2050; current projections will provide less than half what is

needed.

- Signatories include largest companies in the sector 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, USA, India and the UK.

- The world needs decisive action to combat the climate emergency. The wind

industry has the tools available to achieve ambitious targets like a fourfold

increase in the amount of wind energy deployed globally - this manifesto asks

governments to help the wind industry get there.

The wind energy sector has released a manifesto at the BNEF London summit

calling on governments to "get serious" about the energy transition and work

with the private sector to rapidly scale up wind and renewable energy

installations.

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing energy sources in the world, with a

record 93GW of installations in 2020. However, current growth rates are falling

behind a net zero trajectory and will only put us on-track for 43% of the wind

capacity required by 2050, according to leading international energy

institutions IRENA and the IEA. To get on-track, annual wind energy

installations worldwide must quadruple within the next decade.

More than 90 of the world's leading wind energy companies, led by the Global

Wind Energy Council (GWEC), including manufacturers, supply chain actors,

investors and industry bodies from around the world have united to support this

Manifesto. 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 degrees C-compliant pathway.

8. Advance voluntary cooperation on carbon pricing under articles 6.2 and 6.4

   of the Paris agreement.

The renewables industry is already delivering decarbonisation of the global

power sector. Wind power helps the world avoid 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2

emissions annually and already provides more than 1.2 millions jobs around the

world, while transforming economies and communities for good.

But the industry requires supportive policy frameworks to grow more rapidly.

The Manifesto urges governments to work with industry to enact a shift in

energy and economic policymaking to a "climate emergency" approach.

Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO, commented: "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. Governments need to aim higher and deeper

– updating their NDCs to drive real change, cutting red tape and streamline

permitting proceedures, and supporting vital investments in infrastructure. 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."

Rebecca Williams, Director of COP26 at GWEC, commented: "We already have the

tools and the technology we need to tackle climate change. What we don't have

yet is the unprecedented political will we need to make this happen.

"Our Manifesto sets out eight clear actions policymakers and governments must

take to seize the vast economic, environmental and social opportunities that

wind energy provides, helping meet NDCs and achieve sustainable growth. World

leaders gathering in Glasgow next month have a chance to get serious about

driving the new era of renewable energy, not stifling it."

About GWEC

GWEC is a member-based organization that represents the entire wind energy

sector. The members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organizations and

institutions in more than 80 countries, including manufacturers, developers,

component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables

associations, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies.

More: https://gwec.net/.

GWEC has established the Global Wind Energy Coalition for COP26. It is a

multi-stakeholder group of leading wind power company and associations from

across the globe committed to ramping up wind power capacity to limit the

dangerous impacts of climate change.

More: https://windareyouin.com/

Download the COP26 Manifesto in full here: http://gwec.net/cop26-manifesto/

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1661794/GWEC_Logo.jpg

Source: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)