Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN)

Presentation and discussion on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation Report by a panel of experts from governmental, non-governmental and buisnees organizations at an event in Geneva organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, on 6 July 2011.

Background

The Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN), released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on May 9th in Abu Dhabi, assesses existing literature on the future potential of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy technologies, as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It also takes into consideration the environmental and social consequences associated with these technologies, the cost and strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion.

Summary

After a short introduction by the Director and Regional Representative of UNEP, Christophe Bouvier, an overview of the report was given by Renate Christ, Secretary of the IPCC and Rolf Wuestenhagen, Director at the Institute for Economy and the Environment of the University of St. Gallen and Lead Author of SRREN Chapter 11 (Policy Financing and Implementation).

The presentations were followed by a peer discussion among institutional representatives. Jean-Christophe Füeg, Head of International Affairs at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy illustrated the renewable energies challenges and opportunities Switzerland faces with the decommissioning of nuclear plants by 2034. The importance of more private sector involvement in making renewable energy technologies market-proven was explained by Thomas Kerr, Director of the Climate Change Initiatives at the World Economic Forum. Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer of the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) noted the need for enforced international renewable energy trade schemes to support the development of renewable energies.

Over 70 participants from various governments, business organizations and NGOs joined the discussion on the potential of renewable energy technologies to contribute to securing future global energy supply and to mitigate climate change.

Agenda

9h45
Coffee & Tea

10h00
Welcome and introduction
Christophe Bouvier, Director and Regional Representative, UNEP

10h10
Presentation of the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN)

Renate Christ, Secretary, IPCC
Rolf Wuestenhagen, Director, Institute for Economy and the Environment. University of St. Gallen – Lead Author, Chapter 11 (Policy Financing and Implementation), SRREN

10h40
Discussion on the potentials of renewable energy technologies to contribute to securing future global energy supply and to mitigating climate change

Jean-christophe Füeg, Head, International Affairs, Swiss Federal Office of Energy
Thomas Kerr, Director, Climate Change Initiatives, World Economic Forum
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer, International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)

11h30
Question-and-answer session, moderated by Christophe Bouvier

12h00
End