Policy paper

COP26 Energy Transition Council – Summary Statement

Published 7 December 2020

1. 1. Ministers and senior officials from 21 countries came together with leaders of the world’s international organisations focused on the global power sector for the first meeting of the COP26 Energy Transition Council. The Council aims to accelerate the global transition to clean power.
   
   
2. 2. A rapid and just transition to clean power is vital, to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement for avoiding dangerous climate change and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The transition offers huge opportunities for jobs and growth, cleaner air, and improved public health. It can also boost energy access, energy efficiency and energy security.
   
   
3. 3. This transition is already under way – renewables made up over 70% of global power capacity additions in 2019 – but it needs to accelerate. The power sector accounts for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. The pace of the global transition to clean power needs to at least quadruple over the next decade if we are to meet our Paris goals.
   
   
4. 4. The Energy Transition Council, launched by the UK as part of its COP26 Presidency, recognises the need to respond to this global challenge. Governments, industry, investors, workers and civil society all have a part to play. Our national contexts and policy approaches may differ, but the transition will be faster, more effective and lower cost for all if we work together.
   
   
5. 5. Chaired by COP26 President, Alok Sharma, and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy, Damilola Ogunbiyi, the group agreed to use this forum to enhance its cooperation. Together, these governments and institutions will aim to find solutions more quickly to the technical, economic and social aspects of the transition to low cost, low carbon, inclusive and resilient power systems.
   
   
6. 6. The Council agreed to explore specific opportunities for collaboration in areas including:
   1. a) Making clean power technologies the preferred option for countries investing in new power generation, with the aim of doubling the rate of investment in clean power by 2030.
   2. b) Developing policy and regulatory frameworks to attract the private sector to help deliver and finance these investment needs.
   3. c) Supporting people and communities heavily reliant on the coal economy to make a secure and just transition to clean power and other economic opportunities, ensuring that no one is left behind.
   4. d) Enabling the delivery of SDG7, harnessing centralised and decentralised clean energy solutions to achieve universal access to sustainable, affordable, modern energy by 2030, increase energy efficiency, and maximise the wider development benefits of the energy transition.
      
      
7. 7. As the world works to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council recognises that the decisions made today will be critical for laying the foundations for inclusive growth and sustainable development. As such, our governments and institutions commit to ensuring that recovery plans support an accelerated transition to modern, resilient, clean power systems as part of broader efforts to boost growth, incomes and employment while promoting cleaner and more sustainable economies.

Quotes

COP26 President Designate, Alok Sharma, said:

The world faces the prospect of catastrophic climate change and we have no time to lose if we are to avert it. Through the COP26 Energy Transition Council, governments and international leaders can share expertise and support one another to achieve a faster transition to clean, affordable and resilient power systems as part of a green economic recovery from the global pandemic.

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, said: 

The Paris Agreement promised to leave no one behind, and an inclusive, just energy transition is pivotal to deliver this vision. At a time when almost 800 million people lack access to electricity and 2.8 billion lack access to clean cooking solutions, bold climate action must enable new clean energy solutions at scale in countries working to close energy access gaps. This is an urgent challenge and why Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) has partnered with the UK COP Presidency to deliver new, ambitious commitments ahead of COP 26 - including at the UN High Level Dialogue on Energy where countries will be invited to raise their ambition through Energy Compacts.

Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, said:

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, countries must work together to accelerate the transition to clean energy, without leaving workers behind. Canada is pleased to be working with the Energy Transition Council to move to cleaner sources of power that cut pollution, while building stronger economies and a healthier planet.

Nandita Parshad, Managing Director for Sustainable Infrastructure at the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, said:

The EBRD as an IFI with both Transition and Green at the core of its mandate is very pleased to be part of this important platform in the run-up to the COP26, to share experience in policy and investments, stimulate and scale-up clean energy and accelerate the delivery of the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Attendees

COP26 Energy Transition Council Co-Chairs: COP26 President Designate, The Rt. Hon, Alok Sharma MP; and UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy & CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), Damilola Ogunbiyi

COP26 Energy Transition Council Deputy Chair: UK Minister for Business, Energy & Clean Growth, The Rt. Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng MP

Bangladesh: The Hon. Nasrul Hamid, Minister of Power Energy and Mineral Resources

Canada: The Hon. Seamus O’Regan , Minister of Natural Resources

Denmark: Tomas Ankers Christiansen, Ambassador for Climate Change

Egypt: Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohina, First Undersecretary, Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy

France: Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador for Climate Change Negotiations, Renewable Energies and Climate Risk Prevention

Germany: Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety; and Dr. Jürgen Zattler, Director General for International Development Policy, 2030 Agenda & Climate, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

India: The Hon. Raj Kumar Singh, Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy

Indonesia: The Hon. Arifin Tasrif, Minister for Energy & Mineral Resources

Japan: senior official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Kenya: Dr Joseph Njoroge, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Energy

Laos: Dr. Daovong Phonekeo, Vice Minister, Ministry of Energy and Mines

Morocco: The Hon. Aziz Rabbah, Minister of Energy, Mines & Sustainable Development

Myanmar: The Hon. U Ohn Win, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation; and The Hon. U Win Khaing: Minister of Electricity and Energy Netherlands: Kitty van der Heijden, Vice Minister for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nigeria: Goddy Jedy Agba, Minister of State for Power; and Ms Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State for The Environment

Norway: Aksel Jakobsen, State Secretary of International Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs