Renewables Club Founded By 10
Countries

June 1, 2013 - cleantechnica.com

On the invitation of the German Environment Minister Peter Altmaier, high-level representatives from 10 countries have gathered in Berlin to establish the Renewables Club on June 1st, 2013. Their common goal is to scale up the deployment of renewable energy worldwide. Founding members of this pro-renewable alliance are the People's Republic of China, the Kingdom of Denmark, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of India, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Tonga (as a representative of small and medium-sized island nations), the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

"As members of the Club we aim to lead by example," said Minister Altmaier. "The Renewables Club is a political initiative of pioneering countries that are united by an important goal: a worldwide transformation of the energy system." In such a system, renewable energy should play a key role in the future global energy supply.

"We are determined to work together as advocates and implementers of renewable energy at global level," said Altmaier. "We in Germany do not stand alone with our Energiewende, but are a part of a strong group of leaders." The Club is intended to supplement and support the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

"Renewable energy is not only a good way of combating climate change, it also contributes to prosperity and supply security throughout the world," said Altmaier. "Especially at a time of growing energy demand, this is the attraction of renewable energy for countries all over the world."

The Club members agreed to unite in putting renewable energy on the political agenda in the future. At the next UN climate conference, the Club plans to jointly present the advantages of renewable energy for prosperity, climate, and sustainable development. As a network and driver of ideas, the Club also aims to generate impetus for projects promoting the global transformation of the energy system.

While the formal foundation of a club of pro-renewable energy nations did not come with any binding targets nor joined projects, it does send out some very powerful messages. One of the most important messages is probably the fact that 10 diverse nations publicly declare that the world has to move to a renewable future at this moment in time to deal with many of the existential challenges of our time.

From the official "Renewables Club - Communiqué": We recognize that, with the global energy demand predicted to rise tremendously in the years to come, countries are facing investment and infrastructure decisions on a scale that will define the development of generations to come. We also recognize that the current energy system as it stands right now poses risks to the climate, environment, poverty eradication, energy security and development, in particular in most vulnerable countries.

We are convinced that renewable energy, including transmission and interconnection infrastructures, is an essential part of the solution to the existential challenges we are facing and the means to transform the path to sustainability**. We stress that renewable energy has entered into a virtuous circle of falling costs, increasing deployment and accelerated technological progress, renewable energy technologies now representing economical choices in an increasing number of countries and regions.

What is even more impressive than the refreshingly clear language are some of the stats and facts surrounding the Renewables Club, even in its current ten-member set up:

• With approximately 2.9 billion inhabitants, the ten member nations represent about 40% of the world population.
  
  
• With approximately $19 trillion, they also represent about 27% of the world economy (measured in nominal GDP).
  
  
• The members of the Renewables Club represented 40% of global investments in renewables last year.
  
  
  
• The Renewables Club includes economies that are leaders in technology, innovation, industry, renewable deployment, and efficient policy frameworks, as well as those emerging economies that will benefit the most from a rapid transition to renewable energy.

In all fairness, the establishment of this club is perhaps just some symbolic low-level political "noise," but it might also be the beginning of an important international institution that acts as a strong voice for the proven working solutions to many of the world's problems, and as a spearhead against many of the political barriers that hinder progress today.

Perhaps a good indication of the latter is the fact that the formal foundation of this "coalition of the willing" or "axis of renewables" initiated by the German government was precluded by many bilateral agreements, cooperation treaties, and even explicit development projects.

** This is the GENI Initiative www.geni.org in the language of the Renewables Club