Alok Sharma
IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit
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From targets to actions
Top international energy and climate leaders from countries representing the vast majority of global GDP, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions will take part in the IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit on 31 March to accelerate the momentum behind clean energy and examine how countries can work together more effectively to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero in line with shared international goals.
Following the IEA’s inaugural Clean Energy Transitions Summit in 2020, this year’s edition will be co-hosted by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma, and will act as a critical milestone on the road to COP26 in Glasgow in November.
The Summit will bring together representatives from energy and climate Ministries from more than 40 countries. This includes official Ministerial representatives from the United States, India, China, the European Union, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, Colombia, Australia, and many others, who will take part in 5 Ministerial panel discussions. In addition, participants from a broad cross section of civil society groups, private companies, and governments will be in attendance.
It will be a critical opportunity to take stock of the growing list of commitments from countries and companies to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, and to focus on the implementation actions necessary to start turning the growing number of net zero goals into reality. Participants will share insights on what has worked in the real world to help identify policies and measures that can deliver concrete results to achieve climate, security and affordability goals. This event will build momentum towards COP26 and inform preparation of the IEA’s upcoming Special Report “The World’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050”.
Chairs
Dr Fatih Birol
Dr Fatih Birol
Dr Fatih Birol (@fbirol) has served as Executive Director of the International Energy Agency since 2015. Under his leadership, the IEA has moved to the forefront of global efforts to safeguard energy security while combatting climate change and managing the social and economic impacts of clean energy transitions.
After taking office, Dr Birol led the IEA in its first ever modernisation programme, focussing on “opening the doors” of the IEA to major emerging economies (including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa); making the IEA the global hub for clean energy transitions; and broadening the IEA’s energy security focus beyond oil. With new governments joining the IEA Family under his tenure, its share of global energy demand has risen from 40% to almost 80%.
Dr Birol took up his current position after rising through the ranks of the IEA over two decades. He has been named in the TIME100, TIME’s annual list of the world’s most influential people. He has also been named by Forbes as one of the most influential people in the world of energy and by the Financial Times as the Energy Personality of the Year. He chairs the World Economic Forum’s (Davos) Energy Advisory Board. He is the recipient of the French Legion of Honour bestowed by the President of France, the Japanese Emperor’s Order of the Rising Sun, the Gwanghwa Medal from the President of Korea, the Order of the Polar Star from the King of Sweden, the highest Emirati civil decoration from the President of the United Arab Emirates, and the highest Presidential decorations from Austria and Germany, among others. Dr Birol has been awarded a Doctorate of Science honoris causa from Imperial College London and been elected as an International Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Before the IEA, Dr Birol worked at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna. He earned a BSc degree in power engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul and received an MSc and PhD in energy economics from the Technical University of Vienna. He is an honorary life member of Galatasaray Football Club.
Schedule
All times in Paris time
Mar 31, 2021
12:00 - 13:00
A Grand Coalition to Achieve Global Net Zero and a Conversation between Major Economies
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 1: Ensuring People-Centred Transitions
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 2: Catalysing Near Term Implementation
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 3: Accelerating Technology and Innovation in Key Sectors
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 4: Mobilising Clean Energy Investment
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 5: Building Confidence that Commitments will be Realised
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14:00 - 15:00
Leaders’ Plenary – Toward Glasgow and Beyond
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Videos
Key materials
Mar 31, 2021