The global solar industry will come together at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) to be held in Cancun from November 29 to December 10.
The coalition of over 40 solar and renewable energy organisations will be represented by both the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) and the US based Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The group intends to remind UN decision-makers that solar energy generation can make a significant impact carbon emissions around the world along with creating jobs and economic opportunity.
“The sun offers us today a unique way of generating electricity on a global scale, making it possible to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the added benefit of being socially responsible, generating jobs and supporting sustainable development,” said Adel El Gammal, Secretary General of the EPIA.
Mr El Gammal said he believes solar energy would bridge the gap between developing nations and the first world by removing the need for traditional, dirty sources of energy.
“This will allow developing nations to leapfrog past conventional energy dependency to a clean and unlimited source that can also easily reach under-served populations in rural areas,” he said.
At the conference, the group will release the 2010 edition of its report, “Seizing the Solar Solution: Combating Climate Change through accelerated deployment,” which shows that combined word targets for electric capacity will reach 700 gigawatts (GW) by 2020 and solar thermal capacity will hit 280 gigawatts (GWth, thermal equivalent) by 2020.
According to Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the SEIA, global uptake of solar energy systems has never been more important. “Deploying solar energy is a concrete measure for our nations’ leaders to reduce harmful pollution now,” he said. “With the right policies, our government leaders can accelerate the adoption of solar, reducing CO2 emissions equivalent to taking 110 million cars off the road.”
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