Reuter Events: Global Energy Transition 2023

Energizing Cleantech: Investment Trends for Technological Innovations

June 7, 2023 from 11:50 am to 2:40pm EST

According to the IEA approximately 50% of the technologies needed for achieving net zero emissions by 2050 are not yet commercially competitive. How can energy stakeholders accelerate the scaling of clean technologies? Which technologies provide the potential to drive the transition forward whilst ensuring returns for developers and investors alike? Identify where market leaders are investing their resources and deep dive into the technology toolkit for the next phase of low carbon technology deployment.

Panellists:

• Mike Train (Chief Sustainability Officer, Emerson)
• Roger Martella (CSO, GE)
• Ligia Noronha (Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office, UNEP)
• Greg Jackson (Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Octopus Energy (Kraken Technologies)

Workshop Session: Unlocking Energy Efficiency Investment: The Role of Standards

June 8, 2023 from 7:40am to 8:40am EST

Energy efficiency is a widely available, cost-effective investment that increases competitiveness.  Yet, investments in energy efficiency have fallen short of expectations: the global annual energy intensity rate –a key measure of progress toward improving the efficiency with which energy is transformed, distributed and used– remains below the 2.6 percent goal target enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed, despite the ostensibly strong business case for energy efficiency, growth in private sector energy efficiency investments remain sluggish.  This observation contrasts with the rising volume of private-sector investments in sustainability more broadly: a 15 percent increase over the period 2018-2020, to reach USD 35.3 trillion in “five major markets” in early 2020.

The workshop will explore why and how ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards can help unlock energy efficiency investment and drive the energy transition forward. Participants will discuss what is there to gain for private sectors from these investments, how market participants can establish an effective mechanism for driving up energy-efficient products and practices by incorporating energy efficiency performance metrics into existing frameworks and how efficiency-conscious ESG strategies will increase a company’s sustainability performance rating and attract investment.

It will introduce participants to UNEP resources such as the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre brief, Energy Efficiency in Green Finance Taxonomies, and United for Efficiency’s Country Savings Assessments, which show the savings potential of energy-efficient lighting, appliances and equipment, and their Model Regulation Guidelines, as examples of how energy efficient products can be specified.