What is a green economy?

1. High-level workshop on “Public-Private Partnerships’ implementation in Energy Sector in Africa”30 June-1July, UNCC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Green Economy: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward – Key Findings of the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Mitigation Dr Youba SOKONA IPCC/UNECA-ACPC

2. What is a green economy? • “Economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities” (UNEP) • A low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive economy • A way of achieving the move towards Sustainable Development path or making development more sustainable

3. Greening could generates • Increase in wealth and produce higher GDP growth • Gain in ecological commons and natural capital • Positive link between poverty eradication and better maintenance and conservation of ecological commons • Substitute renewable and low carbon technologies for fossil fuels

4. Demand for energy services is increasing GHG emissions resulting from the provision of energy services contribute significantly to the increase in atmospheric GHG concentrations.

5. Potential CO2 emissions from fossil fuels resources and reserves would exceed range of scenarios considered

6. In the absence of additional climate policies projected global average temperature will rise over this century

7. CO2 emissions = Population x Affluence x Energy intensity x Carbon intensity

8. The current global energy system is dominated by fossil fuels. Shares of energy sources in total global primary energy supply in 2008

9. In 2008 RE contibuted 19% of global electricity supply mainly from hydropower

10. Deployment of RE has been increasing rapidly in recent years • In 2009 RE capacity continued to grow • Wind power 32%, 38 GW added • Hydropower 3%, 31 GW added • Grid-connected PV 53%, 7 GW added • Geothermal power 4%, 0.4 GW added • Solar hot water/heating 21%, 31 GWth • Ethanol 10%, 7 billion liters added • Biodiesel 9%, 2 billion liters added

11. Most of RE have low specific emissions of CO2 relative to fossil fuels

12. Future share of RE applications will depend on climate potection goals

13. Multiple energy service needs can be satisfied by various types of RE

14. Global technical potential for RE is substantially higher than both current and projected future global energy demand

15. RE costs are still higher than existing energy prices, but in various settings RE is already competitive. Binary cycle plant Domestic pellet heating system Palm oil biodiesel

16. RE costs have declined in the past and further declines can be expected in the future.

17. Few, if any, fundamental technical limits exist to the integration of a majority share of RE, but advancements in several areas are needed. • Transmission and distribution infrastructure • Generation flexibility • Energy storage technologies • Demand side management • Improved forecasting and operational planning methods

18. An integrated RE-based energy plant in Lillestrøm, Norway, supplying commercial and domestic buildings

19. Lifecycle GHG emissions of RE technologies are, in general, considerably lower than those of fossil fuel options.

20. RE deployment increases in scenarios with lower greenhouse gas concentration stabilization levels.

21. RE Contribution to SD • RE can help decouple the correlation between economic development, increasing energy use and growth of GHG emissions, contributing to sustainable development (SD) • Country specific context • RE => contribution to social and economic development, energy access, secure energy supply, climate change mitigation, and the reduction of negative environmental and health impacts • Supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

22. RE Contribution to Social and Economic Development • Cost savings in comparison to non-RE use, under favourable conditions • Reduction of costs associated with energy imports • Positive impact on job creation

23. Access to Energy • RE can help accelerate access to energy, particularly for the 1.4 billion people without access to electricity and the additional 1.3 billion using traditional biomass • The number of people without access to modern energy services is expected to remain unchanged unless relevant domestic policies are implemented, which may be supported or complemented by international assistance as appropriate

24. Energy Security • RE options can contribute to a more secure energy supply • Potential to reduce vulnerability to supply disruption and market volatility • Specific challenges to integration must be considered

25. Environmental benefits • In addition to reduced GHG emissions, RE technologies can provide other important environmental benefits • Maximizing these benefits depends on the specific technology, management, and site characteristics associated with each RE project

26. RE Policies • An increasing number and variety of RE policies - motivated by many factors - have driven escalated growth of RE technologies in recent years • Government policies play a crucial role in accelerating the deployment of RE technologies • There is no one-size-fits-all policy

27. RE Policies – Main Drivers Developing Countries: • Energy access • Social and economic development Developed Countries: • Secure energy supply • Environmental concerns

28. 28 RE and Climate Change Mitigation Policies2011

29. RE Policy Scales Policies can be: • sector specific, • local, • state/provincial, • national • regional Policies can be complemented by bilateral, regional and international cooperation

30. Barriers to RE deployment • institutional, • market failures, • lack of: general information, access to relevant data, technical and knowledge capacity, • barriers related to societal and personal values and affecting the perception and acceptance of RE technologies

31. Policy Efficiency and Effectiveness • Flexibility to adjust as technologies, markets and other factors evolve • The details of design and implementation • Policy frameworks that are transparent and sustained • Long-term objectives for RE • Flexibility to learn from experience

32. ‘Enabling’ environment for RE • addressing the possible interactions with other RE policies as well as with energy and non-energy policies (e.g., those targeting agriculture, transportation, water management and urban planning); • easing the ability of RE developers to obtain finance, • removing barriers for access to networks and markets, • increasing education and awareness, • enabling technology transfer