Exclusive: Over 60 countries back deal to triple renewable energy this decade
The project prepares a commitment by countries to double the global annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency to 4% per year by 2030
More than 60 countries have said they support an agreement led by the European Union, the United States and the United Arab Emirates to triple renewable energy this decade and move away from the coal era, two officials familiar with the matter said, quoted by Reuters on Thursday.
The EU, US and UAE are rallying support for the pledge ahead of the UN's annual COP28 climate talks, to be held from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, and will call for its inclusion in the final outcome of a meeting of world leaders on December 2, the sources said.
Some major emerging economies such as Nigeria, South Africa and Vietnam, developed countries such as Australia, Japan and Canada and others including Peru, Chile, Zambia and Barbados said they would join the pledge, officials told Reuters.
The draft pledge, seen by Reuters, would also commit those who sign it to double the global annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency to 4% a year by 2030
The draft says that greater use of renewables must be accompanied by a "phasing out of coal power", including ending funding for new coal-fired power plants.
One of the officials told Reuters that talks with China and India to join the pledge were "quite advanced", although neither had yet agreed to join.
Scientists say both actions - a rapid expansion of clean energy and a rapid reduction in CO2-emitting fossil fuel burning in the energy sector - are vital if the world is to prevent more severe climate change.
Officials believe an early show of support for tripling renewable energy and ditching coal will build momentum and set a positive tone ahead of days of tense negotiations expected at the climate conference.