Latest news with #Stiell
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UN climate chief calls on countries to submit their NDC targets
Clear and strong climate policies are an antidote to economic uncertainty, UN Climate chief Simon Stiell said on Tuesday while calling on countries to submit ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. 'Climate policy can help get trade flowing and economies growing. And prevent wildly destructive climate impacts. Providing signals from governments to markets. To those investors ready to hit the 'go' button on huge investments. That's why a new generation of national climate plans — or NDCs — are utterly essential,' Stiell said at the 2025 Nature Summit in Panama. Most major economies are yet to submit their new NDCs for the 2035 period including EU and China. UAE, US, Brazil, Japan are among those that have submitted updated NDCs. But, President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris climate deal for the second time in a decade after signing a series of executive actions hours after being sworn in January. China in April announced that it will set out new goals for cuts by 2035 'covering the entire scope of the economy, including all greenhouse gases', ahead of the COP30 summit in November in Brazil. Indian officials in February had said a political decision on submitting an updated NDC is awaited and there is still time to update it. India has said it will also submit a comprehensive climate adaptation plan ahead of COP30. A disappointing outcome on climate finance at the last climate talks at Baku, COP29 has been flagged repeatedly by India. Amid various trade and other geopolitical disruptions, Stiell on Tuesday insisted that climate plans are essentially about growth. 'In the past, climate plans have often focused mainly on cuts — cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and to old-fashioned energy. This new generation of climate plans are really about growth. Growing industries and economies. And building a better future. One where nature is protected, and where people have better opportunities. Done right, these plans can attract a bonanza of benefits. More jobs. More revenue. And a virtuous cycle of increased investment,' he added. 'But, unless it's implemented an NDC is just a piece of paper. That's why political leadership now, is so important. And the political and policy signals from almost all of the world's largest economies are very clear: global decarbonisation is unstoppable and continues to gather pace and scale,' Stiell emphasised. From rapid technological advancements in electric vehicle charging, to breakthroughs in energy storage, all while the costs of wind, solar, and so many more clean technologies keep coming down. 'And it's backed by hard data — more than 90% of new energy last year was renewable. It's clear in the words and deeds of the leaders who get it. Brazil, putting nature at the heart of their climate plan. Germany promising to invest billions in climate action to increase security. China, for the first time, saying it will set a new national climate target that covers every greenhouse gas and sector of the economy,' he said. 'Every country wants to take advantage of a $2 trillion clean energy market. And, while competition is a good thing, now is not the time for zero-sum thinking. We need to work together to ensure that everyone benefits. That new markets open and new trade routes form,' Stiell stressed. Country leaders have largely agreed to cooperate on climate related issues. 'The good news is, we are also hearing loud and clear from heads of state that they remain committed to cooperation on climate. To build on breakthroughs we've seen at every recent COP. Today, here in Panama, we're hosting the first of our new revamped Climate Weeks. More than ever before, this event will focus on connecting words on paper in our process, with making real-world progress,' he said. Trade and economic uncertainty have been dominating headlines over the past months because supply chains are being fractured, Stiell noted. Climate change is affecting essential commodities worldwide. 'Reducing harvests, emptying shelves, and pushing families into hunger. Famine is back, and the role of global heating cannot be ignored. And all of this is happening while volatile fossil fuel prices drive up the cost of living, hitting people's wallets hard. But amid all the change and disruption, there is also good news. At times like these, with talk of tariffs and trade barriers, and of slowing growth, it's important not to miss the signal in all the noise,' Stiell said. All around the world, clean energy projects are in pipelines. Investors have their fingers on the button — waiting to push go on multi-billion-dollar commitments that will make lives better, he added. Over 170 countries have indicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) they were working on their new NDCs with intention of submitting this year, and vast majority before COP. The secretary general is expected to take stock of NDCs for 2035 period in September. China's declaration that its NDC will be covering the entire scope of the economy, including all greenhouse gases is seen to be a positive milestone ahead of COP30 which could help nudge more action from other countries.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Strong climate plans antidote to prevailing economic uncertainty: UN climate change chief
Strong climate plans antidote to prevailing economic uncertainty: UN climate change chief (AP) NEW DELHI: UN climate change chief Simon Stiell on Tuesday said clear and strong climate plans are an antidote to the economic uncertainty gripping the world. Addressing the 2025 Nature Summit in Panama City, he said that at a time when tariffs, trade barriers and slowing growth have been dominating headlines, robust climate policies can help get trade flowing and economies growing. Stiell said that while global supply chains are being fractured, climate chaos will result in even more serious and sustained impacts. "In the Panama Canal, climate change has already driven water levels lower. Slowing shipping and disrupting trade routes. For the average person, that means costs going up and less money to spend. It also means critical medical supplies delayed for those in desperate need, businesses collapsing and livelihoods vanishing," he said. But amid all the change and disruption, he said, clean energy projects are in pipelines all around the world. "Investors have their fingers on the button, waiting to push go on multi-billion-dollar commitments that will make lives better." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Wärmepumpe 2025: Technikwunder stellt den Heizungsmarkt auf den Kopf thermondo Undo Governments just need to give signals to markets and, for that, a new generation of national climate plans or NDCs are utterly essential, he said. Stiell said that unlike in the past, when climate plans often focused mainly on cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and old-fashioned energy, the new generation of climate plans should be about growth and building a better future where nature is protected. "Done right, these plans can attract a bonanza of benefits. More jobs. More revenue. And a virtuous cycle of increased investment. But unless it's implemented an NDC is just a piece of paper. That's why political leadership now is so important," he said. He added that political and policy signals from almost all of the world's largest economies are very clear: global decarbonization is unstoppable and continues to gather pace and scale. Countries like Brazil, Germany and China are stepping up with ambitious climate plans. Green technologies are growing fast and becoming cheaper, he said. The UNFCCC executive secretary, however, warned that the world cannot afford a two-speed transition, where some countries race ahead with clean energy and climate resilience and leave others behind. "We need to work together to ensure that everyone benefits. That new markets open and new trade routes form," he said.
The Print
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Strong climate plans antidote to prevailing economic uncertainty: UN climate change chief
Stiell said that while global supply chains are being fractured, climate chaos will result in even more serious and sustained impacts. Addressing the 2025 Nature Summit in Panama City, he said that at a time when tariffs, trade barriers and slowing growth have been dominating headlines, robust climate policies can help get trade flowing and economies growing. New Delhi, May 20 (PTI) UN climate change chief Simon Stiell on Tuesday said clear and strong climate plans are an antidote to the economic uncertainty gripping the world. 'In the Panama Canal, climate change has already driven water levels lower. Slowing shipping and disrupting trade routes. For the average person, that means costs going up and less money to spend. It also means critical medical supplies delayed for those in desperate need, businesses collapsing and livelihoods vanishing,' he said. But amid all the change and disruption, he said, clean energy projects are in pipelines all around the world. 'Investors have their fingers on the button, waiting to push go on multi-billion-dollar commitments that will make lives better.' Governments just need to give signals to markets and, for that, a new generation of national climate plans or NDCs are utterly essential, he said. Stiell said that unlike in the past, when climate plans often focused mainly on cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and old-fashioned energy, the new generation of climate plans should be about growth and building a better future where nature is protected. 'Done right, these plans can attract a bonanza of benefits. More jobs. More revenue. And a virtuous cycle of increased investment. But unless it's implemented an NDC is just a piece of paper. That's why political leadership now is so important,' he said. He added that political and policy signals from almost all of the world's largest economies are very clear: global decarbonization is unstoppable and continues to gather pace and scale. Countries like Brazil, Germany and China are stepping up with ambitious climate plans. Green technologies are growing fast and becoming cheaper, he said. The UNFCCC executive secretary, however, warned that the world cannot afford a two-speed transition, where some countries race ahead with clean energy and climate resilience and leave others behind. 'We need to work together to ensure that everyone benefits. That new markets open and new trade routes form,' he said. PTI GVS ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
New national climate plans needed for economic growth, says UN's Stiell
National climate plans must be updated to address economic uncertainty and help growth, said Simon Stiell, the UN's climate change executive secretary, at the 2025 Nature Summit in Panama. A 'new generation' of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), as such climate plans are called, is relevant in light of geopolitical shifts and trade wars, he said. As many as 178 of the 195 member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are expected to submit their NDCs in preparation for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30). Stiell said that new climate plans must focus on growth — promoting industries and economies while building a better future that protects nature and provides better opportunities for people. Also Read The Panama Canal is already experiencing the effects of climate change, with lower water levels slowing shipping and disrupting trade routes. For the average person, this translates to rising costs and less disposable income. It also delays critical medical supplies for those in urgent need, leads to business failures, and threatens livelihoods. A drought at the canal is affecting essential commodities worldwide, resulting in reduced harvests, empty supermarket shelves, and increasing hunger among families. This situation is further exacerbated by rising fossil fuel prices, which elevate the cost of living. 'Famine is back, and the role of global warming cannot be ignored,' Stiell said at the summit, which aims to develop practical solutions for the real economy and bridge the gap between technical discussions, stakeholder engagement and real-world implementation. The Panama Canal plays a vital role in global trade by significantly reducing transit times and costs for ships travelling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. For Indian exports to North and South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim, the canal offers a shorter and more efficient route, leading to lower shipping costs and making Indian goods more competitive in international markets. While global supply chains are being disrupted, the UNFCCC head warned that the impacts of climate chaos could be even more severe and long-lasting. 'Amid discussions of tariffs, trade barriers, and slowing growth, it's important to not overlook the signals in all the noise,' he said. Stiell advocated for climate policy as a means to facilitate trade, stimulate economic growth, and avert disastrous climate impacts. Such policies can send clear signals to governments, markets and investors who are prepared to make significant investments. In the past, climate plans primarily focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and relying on traditional energy sources. For instance, India's NDCs include a commitment to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources and to reduce emission intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. NDCs represent a country's commitment to mitigate and adapt to climate change by setting specific targets, policies and measures, contributing to the global goal of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C. To navigate challenging times and capitalise on the $2 trillion clean energy market, Stiell called for active stakeholder involvement from various countries and sectors to combat climate change and share its benefits. As more ships transit the canal, carrying the components necessary for a global clean energy economy, Stiell emphasised the need to ensure that their numbers continue to grow and that their cargo reaches every country on Earth.
Euronews
26-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Europe challenged to step up as China's solar boom powers record renewable energy growth
ADVERTISEMENT Installation of renewable energy worldwide hit a record high last year, with 92.5 per cent of all new electricity brought online coming from the sun, wind or other clean sources, an international agency reports. Nearly 64 per cent of the new renewable electricity generated in 2024 was in China, according to Wednesday's report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Overall, the world added 585 billion watts of new renewable electrical energy, a 15.1 per cent jump from 2023, with 46 per cent of the world's electricity coming from solar, wind and other green non-nuclear energy sources. World still short of target to triple renewable energy Even this big jump does not put the globe on track to reach the international goal of tripling renewable energy from 2023 to 2030. IRENA has calculated that the world is on pace to be 28 per cent short. Related 'Breakneck speed': Renewables reached 60 per cent of Germany's power mix last year Renewables stepped up to meet surge in energy demand from rising temperatures in 2024, IEA says The goal was adopted in 2023 as part of the world's efforts to curb the increasing impacts of climate change and transition away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. ' Renewable energy is powering down the fossil fuel age. Record-breaking growth is creating jobs, lowering energy bills and cleaning our air,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. 'But the shift to clean energy must be faster and fairer.' China added almost 374 billion watts of renewable power - three-quarters of it from solar panels - in 2024. That's more than eight times as much as the United States did and five times what Europe added last year. China now has nearly 887 billion watts of solar panel power, compared to 176 billion in the United States, nearly 90 billion watts in Germany, 21 billion watts in France and more than 17 billion watts in the United Kingdom. UN climate chief challenges Europe to catch up with China United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell used the figures on Wednesday to challenge Europe and other industrialised nations to catch up with China. 'As one government steps back from climate leadership, it opens up space for others to step forward and seize the vast benefits,' Stiell told European leaders in Berlin, making reference to US President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement . Related Peruvian farmer takes German energy giant RWE to court in fight to hold polluters accountable 'Embarrassing, bad and frankly dangerous': Experts react to drop in US weather balloon launches 'The clean energy transition can be Europe's economic engine-room now - when new sources of growth are vital to buttress living standards and for decades to come.' Stiell said the IRENA numbers show that the 'global renewables boom is unstoppable' and said the market for green energy reached $2 trillion (€1.9 trillion) last year. The move to renewables can grow even faster, said Neil Grant, senior policy analyst at Climate Analytics, which tracks and projects countries' climate change fighting efforts. 'If in 2024 renewables grew 15 per cent, think how much faster they could grow with the full backing of comprehensive, credible and ambitious climate policies around the world,' said Grant, who wasn't part of the IRENA report.
