The wind energy industry’s appeal and offer in the run-up to COP21
11 December – 10h30, European Pavilion, COP20 venue
The debate will be followed by a lunch reception (12h00) and a press conference (13h00)
Which solutions does wind energy provide for economies and societies?
Which countries are the new wind energy champions?
How can INDCs contribute to investments in the energy transition?
Speakers
Brice Lalonde (Special Advisor UN Global Compact)
Li Junfeng (President Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association)
Steve Sawyer (Secretary-General Global Wind Energy Council)
Sonia Lioret (CEO French Wind Energy Association)
Joël Meggelaars (Political Affairs Advisor European Wind Energy Association)
Wind energy, a leading solution
Around the globe, wind energy is powering homes and businesses with affordable energy. Wind energy’s characteristics – providing clean energy, being cost-competitive, reducing energy dependence and creating local growth and jobs – have proved that it is a leading solution in the transition to a renewable energy supply. At the same time, wind energy provides socio-economic solutions to growing economies by accelerating rural electrification, reducing poverty and developing communication infrastructure.
Going all-in to power green solutions
A new global climate agreement, to be concluded in Paris in 2015, will mark the start of a fundamental transition in the energy sector. The wind energy industry understands the scale of this challenge and is ready to engage with all parties to go all-in and power global solutions. Together with all parties, we would like to work towards the creation of policy and finance models, based on clear and long-term Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), which allow the wind industry to invest and provide their solutions.
Speaker biographies
Brice Lalonde was appointed Special Advisor on Sustainable Development to the UN Global Compact in February 2013. He previously held the position of UN Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Prior to that, Mr. Lalonde served as French Ambassador for climate change, French Minister for the Environment, and Chairman of the Round Table for Sustainable Development at the OECD. Mr Lalonde has also worked for non-governmental organizations, like Friends of the Earth.
Steve Sawyer joined GWEC, the Global Wind Energy Council, as its Secretary General in April 2007. GWEC represents the major wind energy associations around the world, as well as major companies from the wind industry that operate on a global level. Before joining GWEC, Mr. Sawyer spent many years working for Greenpeace International, representing the organization at various intergovernmental and industry. At GWEC he is focussed on working with intergovernmental organisations such as the UNFCCC, IPCC, IRENA, and others to ensure that wind power takes its rightful place in the energy options for the future.
Li Junfeng is the President of Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association as well as the director general of China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation. Mr. Li has dedicated his 30-year career life to energy economy and energy environment studies. He was in charge of the structure and drafting of China’s Renewable Energy Law and China’s Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy Development.
Sonia Lioret is the CEO of the French Wind Energy Association. The French Wind Energy Association, founded in 1996, currently has more than 180 members which cover 90% of the installed wind capacity in France. The organization has set a target for France to produce a quarter of its electricity from wind by 2030. Before, Ms. Lioret worked at the French Renewable Energy Association and the German development agency GIZ.
Joël Meggelaars works as Political Affairs Advisor at the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) since 2014. In this capacity, he is responsible for various dossiers such as the EU Emissions Trading System and international climate negotiations. EWEA is the voice of the wind industry, actively promoting wind power in Europe and worldwide. It has over 600 members, which are active in over 50 countries. Before joining EWEA, Mr. Meggelaars worked for nearly four years in the European Parliament as Policy Advisor for Industry, Research and Energy.
