First Report of 1 Gigaton Coalition Finds Potential for Further Reductions
Paris, 7 December 2015 – Initial analysis of almost 6,000 projects targeting renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries has revealed that the projects could reduce CO2 emissions by about 1.7 gigatons a year by 2020.
The findings, released today at COP21 in Paris by the 1 Gigaton Coalition in its first annual report, entitled Narrowing the Emissions Gap: Contributions from renewable energy and energy efficiency activities, are based on projects implemented between 2005 and 2012.
They show the potential for further emissions reductions if programmes and initiatives are supported further to replicate successful projects more widely.
The report is based on the current level of activities in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the energy sector.
However, after the COP21 negotiations, the level of green energy financing is likely to increase, and the 1.7 gigaton figure would be expected to grow in the future. This would assist in closing the emissions gap, which the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2014 estimated at 8–10 Gt CO2 equivalent by 2020.
Borge Brende, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said, “This first report of the 1 Gigaton Coalition is an important step towards quantifying emissions savings from the energy sector. It shows governments and initiatives what could be achieved and encourages them to build on the momentum of the Paris COP to continue to increase their ambitions to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “The potential of increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries to tackling climate change cannot be underestimated. But not only do these energy projects move us toward closing the emissions gap, they are also vital for many countries’ social and economic development. The 1 Gigaton Coalition is playing a crucial role bringing support to these projects. As we accelerate climate action in Paris, I hope to see all parties work together to increase the ambition of what can be achieved.”
More about the 1 Gigaton Coalition
The 1 Gigaton Coalition is a voluntary international framework that was initiated and is supported by the Kingdom of Norway, and is coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The 1 Gigaton Coalition aims to support countries to measure and report reductions of greenhouse gas emissions savings from renewable energy and energy efficiency activities and initiatives in the energy sector, most of which have not been quantified. It does so by collecting data on activities and initiatives, and creating a methodology to attribute the emissions saved from these projects.
For more information, please contact:
Shereen Zorba, Head of News and Media, UNEP Division of Communication and Public Information
Tel. +254 788 526 000, shereen.zorba@unep.org
Moira O'Brien-Malone, Head, Communications, UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Tel: + 33 1 44 37 76 12, mobile +33 6 82 26 93 73, moira.obrien-malone@unep.org
Further resources:
Download the full report here.
For more information, please visit www.1gigatoncoalition.org
About UNEP
Created in 1972, UNEP represents the United Nations’ environmental conscience. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, its mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics - based in Paris - helps governments, local authorities and decision-makers in business and industry to develop and implement policies and practices focusing on sustainable development. The Division leads UNEP's work in the areas of climate change, resource efficiency, and chemicals and waste.
