Subject and goals of the project
The project focuses on building a global network of renewable energy parliamentarians. The network, called the Global Renewables Congress (GRC), aims to facilitate an institutionalized, cross-border and bipartisan exchange of experience and knowledge among members of national and regional parliaments on the technical and economic potential of renewable energy. The background is the difficulties in implementing international commitments to climate protection, which in many countries fall far short of declarations of intent and ratifications of agreements (such as at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015). Parliamentarians play a crucial role in translating their country's political declarations of intent into a binding legal framework and significantly accelerating the transformation of the energy sector.
Implementation will take place in conjunction with already established parliamentary forums such as the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and international professional organizations such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Particular attention will be paid to the environmental and socio-economic benefits of a decentralized energy transition. In the start-up phase, there is a particular geographic focus on various African countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Uganda) that serve as role models.
Communication activities include digital formats (e.g., websites, social media, webinars) and print products (e.g., guides, policy briefs, trade publications) as well as traditional event formats (e.g., general meetings, workshops, side events to major events). Side events include, for example, events in the context of COP24 in Katowice/Poland (2018) and COP25 in Madrid/Spain (2019) as well as the annual IRENA General Assembly.
Innovation and exemplary nature of the project
This project aims to create an institutionalized dialogue format among parliamentarians with a focus on renewable energy. The interdisciplinary and participatory approach of the network will involve representatives from different parties and political groups and from national and regional parliaments, thus increasing the ambition to implement climate and sustainability goals.
The project builds on already established parliamentary forums such as GLOBE, IPU, EUFORES as well as the IRENA Legislators Forum and consolidates the exchange taking place in these forums. This guarantees continuity and constant engagement of the network and its members, which goes beyond the annual events. Parliamentarians are thus given a platform that not only makes international, interdisciplinary expertise accessible, but also actively networks actors and addresses their specific needs through support services. In contrast to existing formats, the network is thematically focused on renewable energies and is not geographically limited to a specific world region.
Special aspects of the project
The "International Parliamentarians Network for Renewable Energy" of the World Future Council (WFC) considers and concretizes political options for action and approaches to solutions for a global energy transition. A particular challenge is to take into account the different horizons of understanding of an inclusive energy transition as well as different social, political and technical starting situations of the countries in the target regions in order to be able to provide tailored political recommendations for action. Another special aspect is that although this is a preparatory project to establish a parliamentarians' network, the role of renewable energy for climate change mitigation and development is relevant across regions and has already been more widely disseminated through international peer-to-peer exchanges. The GRC network provides a forum for parliamentarians from around the world to share and learn from each other regarding experiences, needs, issues, and best practices related to renewable energy and the establishment of legal frameworks.
Funding subject: Renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency
Applicant:
Associated partners:
Locations:
Funding period: September 2018 to May 2021
Project costs: Total volume: 249 900 Euro, DBU funding: 124 950 Euro
DBU-AZ: 34648
Note: Translation of the German version with DeepL
Last updated: 15.11.2021
