The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has received accreditation to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, being hosted this year in the United Arab Emirates.
Keen to amplify the voice of the country’s wind energy sector on a global platform, this is the first time that the association will actively participate in this conference. It presents a significant opportunity to advocate for the wind energy sector’s role in the country’s energy mix and to showcase the achievements of the country's wind energy initiatives and the challenges faced.
CEO of SAWEA, Niveshen Govender, who is leading the association's delegation, emphasises the importance of the association’s attendance, saying: "The scope of the conference's agenda will provide SAWEA with invaluable insights, to align its programmes with international standards while considering the unique needs of the South African context. Additionally, our presence at the conference will allow us to share achievements and position South Africa as an attractive investment destination for renewable energy infrastructure projects that can assist the country in overcoming its energy crisis – and strengthen our role in South Africa's Climate Change agenda. This is a significant priority for our developing nation."
It is two years since South Africa released its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement, committing to new 2030 emissions reduction targets that shift the country’s commitments closer to what is needed globally, to limit warming to 1.5°C, according to criteria used by Climate Action Tracker.
Furthermore, the association will join the Global Wind Energy Council in several critical roundtable discussions, engaging with energy authorities, policy makers and industry thought leaders in response to COP28’s campaign focused on tripling renewables by 2030, to achieve an ambitious target of 11 000 GW of global power capacity.
The ‘Global Stocktake’ at this year's conference focuses on assessing global progress on the Paris Agreement, a pivotal benchmark in climate action, and will help to unpack South Africa's current emissions trends. The results are expected to be sub-optimal and should encourage governments around the world to accelerate climate action. SAWEA strongly believes that wind power has a vital role to play, to ensure that we are on track to meet our national and global commitments.
The conference will tackle the collective global progress towards fulfilling the objectives of the Paris Agreement, with a specific focus on fostering action support and international cooperation. For the SAWEA team, this presents an opportunity to analyse potential adjustments to rectify the current trajectory, delve into wind infrastructure investment, and promote global collaborations. Additionally, the team will engage in knowledge exchange, skills development, global policy alignment, and collaborative efforts in wind energy research, among other key areas.
Govender says, "Renewable energy, particularly wind energy, continues to lead the energy transition to a low-carbon renewable energy future, producing 46.4 TWh, powering 3.6 million average households annually in South Africa alone. It is evident that wind energy offers a clear pathway to achieving the necessary emissions cuts swiftly; it is a safe, reliable, affordable, widely available, and emission-free technology."
Looking forward to SAWEA’s participation in the COP28 dialogues, Govender adds, “Engaging with stakeholders globally will fortify our efforts in promoting and advocating for renewable energy adoption, to help address climate change challenges.”
South Africa has committed to moving towards a goal of reaching net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, setting the stage for the country to invest substantially in clean power and accelerate a transition away from coal. This places much-needed emphasis on ensuring that everyone benefits in a shift to a more sustainable economy, especially the poorest and most vulnerable communities, and on ensuring a just transition for workers.
South Africa is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, having acceded to the Convention in 1997 and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.
For more information visit: www.sawea.org.za
