30 June 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has created the biggest global crisis in generations, aside from the climate crisis. While some of the lockdown measures are being eased, governments are devising stimulus and recovery packages to shape societies and economies for years to come.

Over the last months, we have seen how the proportion of energy supply met by renewables has reached historic highs in China, Europe, India, the UK, and the USA. This continues a trend seen since 2011. But the pace of change is not enough to meet the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement.

A global green recovery is needed. Increasing the investment priorities in renewables will fuel economic growth, create employment opportunities, enhance human welfare, and contribute to a climate-safe future. Bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind offer ready solutions to combat climate change; sustainable, decarbonised economies; and resilient inclusive societies.    

This webinar hosted by the REN Alliance focused on the trends and opportunities for how bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind technologies can work together to create a ‘green COVID-19 recovery’.

Speakers representing each of these technologies presented on how renewables working together can build on Covid-19 recovery strategies to scale up climate action and accelerate access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy for all.

Watch the video

Speakers:

• Eddie Rich, Chair of REN Alliance and IHA CEO

• Rana Adib, Executive Secretary at REN21

• Roland Roesch, Deputy Director, IRENA Innovation and Technology Center

• Paolo Frankl, Head of the Renewable Energy Division at IEA

• Bharadwaj Kummamuru, Executive Director at the World Bioenergy Association (WBA)

• Marit Brommer, Executive Director at the International Geothermal Association (IGA)

• Cristina Diez Santos, Senior Analyst at the International Hydropower Association (IHA)

• Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General at World Wind Energy Association (WWEA)

• Jennifer McIntosh, Executive Secretary at the International Solar Energy Society (ISES)