As clean energy is increasingly driven by the emerging economies, global political leadership in advancing clean energy will be increasingly shared. This is precisely the function of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), which was created in 2010, and whose goal is to form a partnership that brings together major industrialized and emerging economies to focus on clean energy technologies and policies, reduce environmental impacts, and ensure reliable and affordable supplies.



Our timing is critical. Action by the 25 CEM members, representing 90% of global energy investment and 75% of global emissions, is crucial for making the world less carbon-intensive than today.



In Beijing, our focus will be to provide a collaborative environment to tackle these challenges in areas ranging from transportation, buildings to the power sector. Our governments will seek to increase electric mobility, with a target to reach 30% of the new vehicle fleet by 2030. The recent announcements of the Indian government will go a long way towards this end. Another challenge for CEM governments will be to increase EV charging providers by a factor of ten in the next five years. Other priority areas include improving efficiency in buildings, which account for nearly a third of all energy consumption and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. It remains a critical sector and must be addressed at all levels, between governments, industry, regional and city leaders.



In the power sector, the CEM is seeking to move away from the coal-or-renewables paradigm. Coal was the fuel of the last 100 years, and renewables will likely be the dominant fuel of the next century for many countries. At the same time, we must recognize that so-called dispatchable power plants – including thermal generation – are key for many countries to ensure energy security during the transition to a cleaner energy system. And so, the Beijing meeting will launch new work to address this challenge.



To succeed, this energy transition will require the full backing of industry. This is why the CEM includes top-level executives from companies involved in all aspects of the energy field who offer a unique on-the-ground perspective and ultimately determine where investments end up going. They are often the first to recognize what drives clean energy uptake.



This is a unique time for the CEM, which is entering a new phase of cooperation and growth in our short history. The world of energy is changing. Facts on the ground unequivocally point to the key role of emerging economies in clean energy. Come next week’s meeting in Beijing, held from 6-8 June, we are likely to see this reflected in the leadership of the CEM.

The CEM, which is housed at the International Energy Agency, is a global forum that promotes clean energy policies. This Op-Ed was originally published by the Financial Express in India by China Energy News.