By Alessandra Zanzi
On the occasion of the International Day of Clean Energy, held on January 26th, OCCAM wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the promotion of sustainable development, raising awareness about renewable energy solutions, and fostering global cooperation for the improvement and diffusion of green energy efficiency.
The International Day of Clean Energy was declared by the UN General Assembly (Resolution A/77/327) as a call to raise consciousness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. January 26th is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy UN Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions, a platform for international cooperation on clean energy technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment.
Clean energy is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal n.7 on “Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, and to many other global goals, such as reducing poverty, improving health and promoting sustainable growth.
To better grasp the relevance of the commitment to clean energy, it is essential to look at some data: over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels for energy, while about 80% of the global population still lives in countries that are net-importers of fossil fuels. As of 2023, fossil fuels account for approximately 81.5% of global energy consumption, with oil, natural gas, and coal being the primary contributors.
In contrast, renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their potential is yet to be fully harnessed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050. This shift is essential not only to mitigate climate change but also to promote energy security, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and create new economic opportunities.
The renewable energy sector is growing rapidly, but the shift must accelerate to meet climate goals. At COP28, countries agreed to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. At COP29, high-income countries pledged $300 billion annually to help low- and middle-income nations transition, with the goal of mobilizing 1.3 $ trillion per year by 2030. These commitments are critical in addressing the global energy divide and ensuring that developing nations, which often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, have access to the necessary resources and technologies to make the energy transition.
As OCCAM, the commitment to promotion of clean energy has been pursued through the XXIII Infopoverty World Conference. Along with its missions, the conference addressed how new welfare models and solutions in renewable and clean energy infrastructures, such as solar, hydrogen and water, and community engagement, can be fostered in order to achieve sustainable and equitable progress goals.
Moreover, the Infopoverty Programme also included in its plan of action the engagement in the research of new models to empower small islands communities’ sustainable development, to provide basic e-welfare and clean energy. Such commitments shall be renewed and bestowed upon by the international community to ensure sustainable and inclusive development, addressing operational socio-economic gaps, for a new, fairer society.
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