Europe can decarbonizes its economy, while still creating jobs and growth, as long as its member states increase investments in energy research and renewable energy technology.
“We need climate-positive solutions to reach the Paris Agreement. European leadership is critical if we are to preserve our planet and ecosystems,” says Nils Røkke, the Chairman of the Board of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and EVP Sustainability, SINTEF, at COP 24 in Poland.
“The best way to realize the necessary solutions is to link national funding to EU programs, spend existing research funding more wisely and ensure that the public and private sector partner. This will incentivize and accelerate climate-friendly and market-worthy businesses and ideas.”
Representing more than 50,000 researchers in Europe, Røkke calls for quickly bringing pilot projects to market, and that we should be optimistic for the necessary change.
“There are technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage that need a full-scale demonstration plant to make it a reality. Pioneering projects like this absolutely rely on support from government and research institutions. We need more solutions that are sustainable, effective and realistic by 2030,” says Røkke.
