© Ueslei Marcelino/COP30

The global energy transition in the focus of the UN Climate Change Conference

This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) was held in the Brazilian city of Belém, at the heart of the Amazon area. Alongside ways of protecting natural carbon sinks such as the rainforest, the global energy transition featured among the much-debated core issues on its agenda.

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the global energy transition remains vital for lowering carbon emissions and reaching the targets set out in the Paris Agreement. By 2030, global energy efficiency is to double while global renewables capacity is to triple. These targets were reaffirmed at the conference, even though the Final Declaration was less ambitious than had been expected. 

^{Roadmap for a faster transition to renewable energy}

Nevertheless, some important signals were sent: COP30 President do Lago announced a roadmap to speed up the transition to renewables in the coming year, highlighting the fact that sustainable energy sources and widened supply chains are being bundled into a joint project drawing strength from diversity.

Germany is intent on using international cooperation to reach the climate targets by 2030. The bilateral energy partnerships formed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy are about pooling knowledge, ploughing forward with the energy transition and creating new economic opportunities. The ministry is working with 32 countries to transform energy systems (covered by us). 

^{Strong alliances for progressive energy}

What can be done to dovetail the energy transition, climate action and economic development? This was discussed by representatives of government, industry and civil society at a panel organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and held on the fringes of the COP: “Empowering the Global Energy Transition Through Partnerships”. Among the participants featured Dr Gunther Grathwohl (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven (GIZ) und Dr Jorge Islas Sampeiro (Brazil).

Everyone agreed that only cooperation, the use of synergies and technological change can make the global energy transition a success. Cooperation will help accelerate the expansion of renewables, create jobs and promote the knowledge transfer and sustainable value creation. Also, countries that engage in partnerships are succeeding at transforming their energy systems at a quicker pace and lower cost and at becoming more resilient in the face of global energy crises.

^{Renewables as drivers of growth}

The global energy transition has reached record speeds. Now, almost a third of global electricity comes from renewables. Solar and wind energy are among the most cost-efficient sources of energy, opening up new opportunities for many countries.

A well developed electricity system, reliable feed-ins, funding for sustainable hydrogen, storage solutions and heating systems based on renewables are pivotal to the decarbonisation of the industrial sector, transport and buildings.

^{Pilot projects, key-enabling technologies and urban transformation}

Energy partnerships provide an important impetus for the energy transition, promote flagship projects and strengthen market access for German suppliers. They allow for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in energy-intensive sectors such as the steel and chemical industries – a development that will be crucial to limiting global warming.

The buildings sector is also increasingly in the spotlight, given that approx. 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions are produced in urban areas. A sustainable energy supply will have an impact on transport networks and heating systems used in private households.

In a nutshell, a successful energy supply requires dovetailing of policies and economic decisions and energy partnerships are a strategic building block for a resilient, sustainable and fair global world of energy.