COP28: EU, US and UAE deal to triple renewable energy this decade backed by 60 countries

COP28: EU, US and UAE deal to triple renewable energy this decade backed by 60 countries

Image credit: Getty Images

More than 60 countries have said they back a deal spearheaded by the European Union, US and the UAE to triple renewable energy this decade and shift away from coal, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The EU, US and UAE have been rallying support for the pledge ahead of the UN’s annual COP28 climate negotiations to be held November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, and will call for its inclusion in the final outcome of a gathering of world leaders on Dec. 2, the officials said.

Some major emerging economies like Nigeria, South Africa and Vietnam, developed countries like Australia, Japan and Canada, and others including Peru, Chile, Zambia and Barbados have said they will join the pledge, the officials told Reuters.

Renewable energy transition pledge

A draft of the pledge, reviewed by Reuters, would also commit those who sign it to doubling the world’s annual rate of improving energy efficiency to 4 per cent per year until 2030.

The draft says the greater use of renewables must be accompanied by “the phase down of unabated coal power,” including ending the financing of new coal-fired power plants.

One of the officials told Reuters negotiations with China