Call for “Tripling renewable energy… by 2030” in final text from COP28 signals end of fossil fuel era.

December 13, 2023

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Weak language on transition puts impetus on industry and governments to end the world’s reliance on polluting fossil fuels and start renewables era.

Dubai, 13 December, 2023 | The agreement to triple renewables at COP28 in Dubai represents a stepchange in the world’s journey to a clean, secure and just energy future. It also marks the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era. It represents the first time the technology’s positive impact and climate saving potential has been recognised by all nations. However, the final text, and process to get there, will be remembered as yet another sign of fossil fuels’ cruel grip on the fate of the planet and its citizens.

The debate must move on from asking a handful of fossil producing countries to do us all a favour, and instead focus on building the world we all want to live in. This must be the start of a new era of collaboration that will see industry and government enabling an accelerated transition to a renewable based future.

The specific inclusion for the first time of wind, solar and storage makes it clear renewable technologies can deliver the energy transition this decade. Industry, governments and society must now have a laser-focus on unblocking the pathway to enable their rapid deployment.

Tripling renewable energy capacity to 11,000 GW and doubling energy efficiency by the end of the decade is the most impactful and cost efficient way of keeping the world on course for 1.5°C. Renewable energy technologies are mature, cost competitive and can be deployed at scale very fast. When combined with long duration storage, green hydrogen and smart grids they offer a reliable and flexible solution.

This agreement needs to be swiftly followed by urgent action and implementation to deliver adequate finance, faster permits, new grids and resilient supply chains. It will then unleash a huge wave of investments and job creation, whilst providing affordable access to secure, local energy and clean air.

"The inclusion of tripling renewables in the final COP28 text is unprecedented and signals the start of a massive clean energy revolution. It is the first time all nations have recognised renewable energy as the main solution to the climate crisis, representing a paradigm shift in the energy transition. However, the catastrophic failure to agree on the phaseout of fossil fuels will inevitably lock us into increased climate impacts and dramatically exposes the limits of the current COP decision making process. The rapid expansion of renewables this decade offers a once in a generation opportunity to help end the fossil fuel era."

Bruce Douglas

CEO, Global Renewables Alliance

"The inclusion of language to transition from fossil fuels in the COP28 consensus is historic and the tripling of renewable energy with energy storage creates the pathway to the sustainable future we all want. The agreement to enshrine tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency is a huge win for the world. These measures pave the way for an equitable energy transition by ensuring economic development for the global majority is built on renewable power and energy storage that is better for human and planetary health."

Julia Souder

CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council, and chair of the Global Renewables Alliance

"COP28 gave us a landmark agreement in the global fight against climate change, with a clear and urgent call for renewable energy to be tripled by 2030. The final text went further to make it clear that the rapid scale up of renewables in this decade will largely draw on wind power, along with solar and storage, as the most proven, scalable and cost-effective technologies for mitigating climate change. This is a milestone for the wind industry, which has now been recognised as being on the frontlines on the road to net zero. All eras come to an end, and this must mark the end of the fossil fuel era. The start of the renewables era is now upon us, requiring governments, industry and society to collaborate on now implementing a fair and equitable energy transition. We’re now at the start line of a race against time. We must work to unlock finance, streamline permitting, scale the supply chain and transform grids to ensure this isn’t a missed opportunity. The science is clear, and time is limited. The Global Wind Energy Council will be laser focused in this decade on delivering the enormous uptake of wind energy needed in every region of the world.”

Ben Backwell

CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council and vice-chair of the Global Renewables Alliance

"A few years ago, a global renewables target would have been inconceivable. The fact that this is included in the final COP text – in a historically oil & gas country – is an unequivocal signal that renewables are in, and fossil fuels are out. While there are still too many backdoors available for countries to continue business-as-usual with greenwashed technologies like gas and CCSU, the pure economics of the energy transition will prevail. It is thanks to the plummeting costs and innovation of solar and renewables that 1.5C is still just within reach. Renewables are already replacing fossil fuels in countries across the world, and governments need to catch-up with their policy positions as we head to Baku for COP29."

Sonia Dunlop

CEO of the Global Solar Council, and vice-chair of the Global Renewables Alliance

"Whilst the overall outcome from COP28 is mixed, the sustainable hydropower community welcomes the commitment the world’s leaders have made today on the future for renewables. To triple renewables deployment without falling back on fossil fuels will require the flexibility and storage that only hydropower can bring at scale. Finding models that incentivise sustainable hydropower requires political will and action. Water, wind and sun get the job done!"

Eddie Rich

CEO, International Hydropower Association and vice-chair of the Global Renewables Alliance

About the Global Renewables Alliance

The Global Renewables Alliance ( GRA) represents the leading international industry players and provides a unified renewable energy voice. Comprised of founding members the Global Wind Energy Council, the Global Solar Council, the International Hydropower Association, the International Geothermal Association, the Long Duration Energy Storage Council and the Green Hydrogen Organisation, the Alliance aims to increase ambition and accelerate the uptake of renewable energy across the world. #3xRenewables.

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Saga Henriksdotter

Policy & Communications Officer