From Dare Akogun, Berlin
Germany Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Economic Affairs counterpart Robert Habeck have stressed the urgent need for a global action in clean energy investment.
Speaking while declaring open the 10th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue BETD 24, Baerbock highlighted the significant progress made in renewable energy adoption worldwide, citing a 50% increase in installations compared to the previous year.
She underscored the urgent need for an expanded renewable energy infrastructure, particularly in regions like Africa where 600 million people still lack access to electricity.
Speaking on the economic potential of renewables, Baerbock emphasized the importance of fair and equitable expansion to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.
In his remarks Habeck described the BETD as a vital platform for global energy transition discourse.
He celebrated Germany’s achievements in renewable energy, noting that over 50% of the country’s electricity now comes from renewable sources.
With ambitious goals to reach an 80% share by 2030, he reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to accelerating the transition to clean energy and hydrogen usage.
Habeck highlighted Germany’s active role in bilateral partnerships with over 30 countries, as well as through forums like the BETD, in driving collaborative efforts toward a sustainable energy future.
Both ministers emphasized the significance of international cooperation in achieving global clean energy targets set at COP28 in Dubai.
10th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue
Under the motto “Accelerating the Global Energy Transition”, ministers and high-ranking delegations from over 75 countries will engage in discussions with representatives of
business, science and civil society.
The conference will focus on strategies for reaching the necessary tripling of new global renewables capacity.
Despite the record new capacity across all regenerative energies, the world is not ontarget when it comes to the necessary expansion of renewable energies.
This is theconclusion of the special report presented by the International Organization for Renewable Energies (IRENA) at the BETD, entitled “Tracking COP28 outcomes: Tripling
renewable capacity by 2030”.
In the record-breaking year of 2023, a total of 473 gigawatts of renewable energy systems were installed. What is needed, by contrast, is an installation capacity of 1,000 GW per year until 2030.
More than ever, this 10th BETD conference sees itself as an implementation conference
and a platform for laying out and discussing concrete solutions for the global energy transition.
The focus of the conference will be on the measures required for implementing the COP28 target of a tripling of new capacity from renewable energy installations, as
well on the financing and infrastructure needed to reach that target.
