Under India’s G20 Presidency, the 4th Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) Meeting commenced in Goa yesterday, setting the stage for the concurrent launch of the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 8th Mission Innovation (MI) Meeting. The highly anticipated event, “Advancing Clean Energy Together,” attracted an impressive gathering of more than 800 individuals, including CEM Workstream coordinators, international agencies, researchers, policy experts, industry professionals, and more, from over 34 member countries.
The opening day witnessed a series of inspiring addresses from key participants, setting the tone for the event’s objectives. The Government of India warmly welcomed all attendees, followed by special addresses from the CEM Troika members, the USA, and Brazil, along with remarks from the CEM and MI Secretariats.
The Technology and Cultural Showcase, held at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, from July 19th to 22nd, 2023, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant. The showcase featured cutting-edge advances in clean energy from India and around the world, including Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen, and other clean technologies. The students of Agnel Polytechnic were among the first to participate in this enlightening experience.
Throughout the day, more than 50 partners organized about 30 side events, addressing themes such as energy efficiency, clean fuels, clean power, mobility, and industry decarbonization. Notable sessions included discussions on financing Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage projects, emphasizing strategies to make carbon management projects financially attractive.
The session on ‘Hydrogen – the Nordic Rally to the Valley and Nordic Green Sailing,’ organized by Nordic Green Valley, focused on collaboration and knowledge sharing to accelerate innovation and deployment of Hydrogen Valleys.
Another significant topic covered during the event was sustainable production and use of biomass feedstocks to produce renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials. The session on clean fuels addressed concerns related to the expansion of bio-based products while ensuring sustainable practices and investor confidence.
“Sustainable cooling” emerged as a priority topic, encouraging global action to address heat-stressed countries’ needs. The event presented a unique opportunity to strengthen and scale response and preparedness for extreme heat, aligning with COP28’s objectives.
In a groundbreaking move, a coalition of private and public stakeholders, supported by the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, pledged to collaborate on delivering gigatonne-scale solutions and strategies at COP28.
India’s dedication to a clean energy future and commitment to SDG7 were highlighted during the event. Ambitious Energy Compacts established by government partners, private sector stakeholders, and multi-sector collaborations showcased efforts toward achieving net-zero emissions while advancing universal energy access.
The first day of CEM14 / MI8 also explored diverse carbon removal technologies to aid the pursuit of net-zero emissions. Panelists examined nature-based solutions, direct air capture, and carbon capture and storage, discussing their advantages, disadvantages, and potential synergies.
An informative session on clean energy technology requirements and possibilities for cooperation emphasized major focus areas for technical pathways and identified data gaps. Collaborative research and development (R&D) efforts were explored to effectively bridge these gaps.
