UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched an international plan to deliver clean and affordable technology everywhere by 2030 on the second day of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Tuesday.
Forty leaders, representing more than 70% of the world’s economy, including the US, India, EU and China, signed up to the Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda which is modeled on the UK’s net zero strategy.
Johnson launched technology plan during Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment session at COP26.
The Agenda will see countries and businesses coordinate and strengthen their climate action each year to dramatically scale and speed up the development and deployment of clean technologies and drive down costs by 2030.
The Agenda has been endorsed by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cabo Verde, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Guinea Bissau, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Norway, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and US.
Johnson conference set out the first five goals of the Agenda, collectively covering more than 50% of global emissions.
The first goal focuses on clean power as the most affordable and reliable option for all countries to meet their power needs efficiently by 2030.
The second covers road transport with zero-emission vehicles becoming the new normal given their accessibility, affordability and sustainability.
Near-zero emission steel is the third goal and the fourth focuses on making renewable and low carbon hydrogen globally affordable by 2030.
The fifth goal is concerned with creating a climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture everywhere by 2030.
According to Johnson, delivering the first five breakthroughs could create 20 million new jobs globally and add over $16.7 trillion across both emerging and advanced economies.
'By making clean technology the most affordable, accessible and attractive choice, the default go-to in what are currently the most polluting sectors, we can cut emissions right around the world,' Johnson said at the launch of the Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda.
'The Glasgow Breakthroughs will turbocharge this forward so that by 2030 clean technologies can be enjoyed everywhere, not only reducing emissions but also creating more jobs and greater prosperity.'
Leaders will also commit to discussing global progress every year in each sector starting in 2022. These discussions will be supported by annual reports led by the International Energy Agency in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency and UN High-Level Champions. Annual ministerial debates will be convened on the global initiative to accelerate public and private clean energy innovation to address climate change, Mission Innovation, and the Clean Energy Ministerial global forum.
A series of new initiatives were also launched in support of the Glasgow Breakthroughs.
These include the launch of UK-India led Green Grids Initiative-One Sun One World One Grid endorsed by over 80 countries, to mobilize political will, finance and technical assistance needed to interconnect continents, countries and communities to the very best renewable sources of power globally to ensure no one is left without access to clean energy.
The launch of the Global Energy Alliance for People&Planet has an initial $10 billion of funding from philanthropies and development banks to support energy access and the clean energy transition in the Global South, in strategic partnership with the UK-led Energy Transition Council.
A new initiative, AIM4C, led by the US and the United Arab Emirates with 30 supporting countries committed to accelerating innovation in sustainable agriculture has already garnered $4 billion in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems, including $1 billion from the US.
COP26, hosted by the UK, is being held in Glasgow, Scotland between Oct. 31 and Nov. 12.
By Nuran Erkul Kaya and Gulsen Cagatay in Glasgow, Scotland
Anadolu Agency
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