United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) to take place in Cancun from 29 November to 10 December.
BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, For the second year running, the global solar industry has joined forces to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) to take place in Cancun from 29 November to 10 December. This solar coalition, comprised of more than 40 leading international solar and renewable energy organisations, will speak with a united voice to demonstrate the immediate potential of the accelerated deployment of solar energy in reducing harmful pollution, combating climate change and creating jobs and economic impact.
“The Sun offers us today a unique way of generating electricity on a global scale, making it possible to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the added benefit of being socially responsible, generating jobs and supporting sustainable development locally,” said Adel El Gammal, Secretary General of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). “Government representatives in Cancun should advocate for a clear shift away from conventional fuels to solar energy. This will allow developing nations to leapfrog past conventional energy dependency to a clean and unlimited source that can also easily reach under-served populations in rural areas.”
“Deploying solar energy presents a concrete measure for our nations’ leaders to reduce harmful pollution now,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the US-based Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “With the right policies, our government leaders can accelerate the adoption of solar reducing CO2 emissions equivalent to taking 110 million cars off the road.”
At COP16, the group will release its 2010 edition of “Seizing the Solar Solution: Combating Climate Change through accelerated deployment,” a report that shows combined world targets for solar electric capacity will reach 700 gigawatts by 2020 and solar thermal capacity will reach 280 gigawatts (GWth, thermal equivalent) by 2020.
Solar Petition
In preparation for the UN summit, an online petition has been launched and hundreds of people from across the planet have already signed it. After COP16, the Solar Petition will be sent to key political leaders in charge of making the decisions that will affect the future well-being of our world and the people who live in it. Together with the petition and the list of supporters, they will receive a Solar Dancing Flower to remind them of the power of the Sun. All the funds generated from the production of these solar flowers will be donated to Solar Solidarity, an NGO active in the promotion of projects for the developing world using renewable technology, solar in particular.
For more information please visit www.solarcop16.org
List of Events
SEIA Press Conference: Monday, 6 December from 13:00 to 13:30. Press Conference Room 2 (Luna), ground floor of the Moon Palace Expo Centre (Universal).
The U.S. is poised to become the world’s largest solar market within five years, growing by 10,000 megawatts annually. This is enough to displace 10 coal plants per year and power 2 million households. Today, solar employs 93,000 Americans in all 50 states. With the right policies in place, solar energy can support 440,000 jobs in five years and keep the U.S. on track to meet the pledges of the Copenhagen Accord.
Official Side Event: “Solar powering the planet: Fostering sustainable development and creating jobs today.” Monday, 6 December from 15.00 to 16.30. Room 4 (Aguila), Cancun Messe. Hosted by ARE, EPIA, SEIA.
Solar energy, the fastest growing energy source in the world, has enormous potential to create jobs and provides a clean, competitive and sustainable solution to meet the rising energy demand of developed and developing countries. High-level speakers will discuss the policies needed to accelerate solar deployment.
EPIA Press Conference: Tuesday, 7 December from 11.30 to 12.00. Press Conference Room 2 (Luna), ground floor of the Moon Palace Expo Centre (Universal).
Photovoltaic energy has experienced massive growth across Europe in the last two decades. However, the full potential of this clean energy source remains untapped worldwide, especially in the developing nations that compose the Sunbelt region, located between parallels 35 North/South. According to EPIA’s recent estimations, the PV potential of these countries could range from 260 to 1,100 GW by 2030, representing 27-58% of the forecasted global installed capacity.
The UNFCCC will webcast all these events live from Cancun. You can click here to check the schedule for press conferences and here to get the full list of side events