The world is facing into an abyss of irreversible climate change unless urgent action is taken, a renewable energy chief has warned.
Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), said collaboration was needed before the forthcoming Cop27 climate conference in Egypt to turn the tide.
Speaking as the Abu Dhabi-headquartered agency kicked off its 24th council meeting on Thursday in the capital, Mr La Camera said the world needed to step up its commitment to renewables.
“We are staring into a terrifying abyss of irreversible climate consequences, if we fail to act,” said Mr La Camera.
“The Irena council meeting comes at a critical point in time and gives the international community an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and bolster the world’s commitment to renewables for climate action before Cop27 and Cop28.”
The biannual two-day meeting, chaired this year by Uruguay, gathers more than 400 delegates from 108 countries in Abu Dhabi to discuss the world’s energy transition before Cop27 that starts in Egypt on November 6.
“We are convinced that Irena must continue to spearhead the penetration of renewable energy around the world,” said Fitzgerald Cantero, council chair and National Director of Energy of Uruguay.
“The solutions to mitigate energy poverty and the solution to the current energy crisis will come from renewables and those of us who are already on this path will take further strides in this direction.”
According to the International Energy Agency, the share of renewables in total electricity generation last year stood at about 30 per cent.
However, Irena has said despite the growth in renewable energy capacity over the past decade, the pace of change is inadequate to limit the rise in temperatures from pre-industrial levels.
The Paris Agreement on climate signed in 2015 aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C, and to keep them “well below” 2.0°C above pre-industrial times.
Cop27 will try to keep those targets alive.
Climate change around the world — in pictures
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
HOW TO WATCH
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How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
