COP 26: EU energy day to focus on 4 different aspects of clean energy transition

The EU is hosting 4 different events at the COP26 on Friday, November 5, at a special EU Energy Day, aimed at addressing key changes required in the energy sector in the fight against climate change. These cover ensuring a just transition, promoting offshore renewables and green hydrogen, driving the global pledge to reduce methane emissions, and looking at EU efforts via the UN to establish plans for achieving net zero in all regions of the world. Underlining the EU’s commitment to showing leadership in the global energy transition, the sessions involve a wide range of speakers from all over the world, and EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will address all 4 events.

Speaking ahead of the events, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said: 

The top priority of this Commission is to deliver the European Green Deal – reducing our emissions by 55% in the coming decade and making Europe climate-neutral by 2050. But Europe cannot fight climate change alone. We must support a global clean energy transition. At COP26 in Glasgow, we are working with partners from all over the world to address the key challenges, share best practices and learn from each other.

The first event (9:45 – 11:00, GMT), co-hosted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), will look at ensuring a just and people-centred transition. In addition to Commissioner Simson, who will highlight the EU’s commitment to a just transition, the audience will hear IEA Director-General Fatih Birol introduce the recommendations of the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions. Other speakers include Ministers from Canada, Chile, Senegal and Germany, as well as Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and Lei Zhang, CEO of Envision Group.

Offshore renewable energy and green hydrogen is the subject of the second event (11.30-12.30). Organised together with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the session will highlight the role of offshore renewables and their potential for delivering green hydrogen. As well as Commissioner Simson and IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera, the speakers include politicians and leaders from industry who will outline the progress that has already been made in this area, the benefits and the potential for future opportunities at local and global level.

Following from last Sunday’s launch of the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and President von der Leyen’s speech on the Global Methane Pledge on Tuesday, the day’s third event (from 14.30-15.30) will highlight the need to reduce methane emissions and the role that the IMEO can play in driving the Global Methane Pledge. Established by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), with the support of the EU, the IMEO is an independent observatory aimed creating a sound scientific basis for methane emissions calculations, while also being a key part of the EU Methane Strategy. Since its launch, more than 100 countries have signed up to the Global Methane Pledge, aimed at reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030. As well as a presentation from the UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, there will be a panel discussion with experts and a closing speech from Commissioner Simson. 

The 4th and final event in the EU Pavilion (16:00-17:00) will look at the EU’s engagement on UN compacts (i.e. the commitments proposed by the EU in the framework of the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy in September). Commissioner Simson will open the event by recalling the three compacts – i) (with the IEA) to put in place national zero-emission energy roadmaps by 2050 with key partner countries; ii) (with IRENA) to create Regional Energy Transition Outlooks for Africa, South-Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean; and iii) to boost green hydrogen worldwide, by pooling commitments by national and sub-national governments, businesses, international organisations and other stakeholders. The panel will then discuss how these three ambitions can be taken forward in practice.

For more details, including how to register, see EU Energy Day at COP26

All 4 speeches by Commissioner Simson will be recorded and broadcast live on EbS+.

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