On 23 September of 2019, government and business leaders from across the world convened in New York City for the United Nations’ Climate Action Summit. With green energy at the center of the conversation, First Choice Power is here to deliver all the latest developments off the back of this historic event.
The Summit and Strike
Hosting hundreds of leaders from both the private and public sector, the U.N. Climate Action Summit provided a platform for governmental bodies, companies, and other organizations to discuss the current state of climate change.
According to a U.N. press release following the event, 65 countries in attendance made the commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Additionally, 70 others announced that they are either in the process of or are planning to boost their national action plans by 2020.
The summit came just days after the Global Climate Strike on September 20, which took place across over 180 countries and saw 7.6 million people participate in demonstrations; putting intense pressure on big corporations and governments to take action. The conversation this year has also seen great involvement from younger generations, with outspoken activists such as Greta Thunberg sparking controversy and dialogue among supporters and critics.
Public Sector Update
Notable announcements from nations in attendance included the commitment from France that in the future, the country would not enter any trade agreements with countries that have policies counter to the Paris Agreement. Across the globe in Asia, member nation China said they plan to cut emissions by over 12 billion tons annually. India also pledged to increase renewable energy capacity to 175gw by 2022.
President Donald Trump was not there to represent the U.S., however California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, was present and affirmed the state’s commitment alongside other nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. For energy providers like First Choice Power, this is a sign that green energy alternatives could become even more accessible in the U.S. market.
Private Sector Update
In the private sector, big names have also made announcements regarding green energy.
Already a carbon neutral company since 2007, tech giant Google announced that it has made 18 new energy deals which will reportedly increase the company’s worldwide portfolio of wind and solar agreements by more than 40%.
Another big player, Amazon, has also recently announced two major green energy projects in the European Union and the US, with plans to build an Amazon Wind Farm in Ireland and an Amazon Solar Farm in Virginia. The company anticipates that both projects will produce clean energy by 2020 and will supply clean energy to the company’s data centers. The company also made a pledge to be carbon neutral by 2040.
Looking Ahead
For energy providers like First Choice Power, staying on top of global trends in energy is paramount. Especially with solar and wind energy becoming cheaper than coal in some parts of the world, it is only a matter of time until it becomes more available in the US.