COP21 IEA Technical Day: Analysis for COP21 and Beyond

Background

This event is a technical deep-dive into the analysis behind the IEA’s key messages to COP21, involving IEA speakers, analysts from other organisations, energy sector representatives, and members of national delegations. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the IEA, will introduce the Agency’s key messages to COP 21 and his vision for the role of the IEA in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The event has four sessions on: 1) the impact of INDCs on the energy sector; 2) actions to peak global energy emissions by 2020 without harming economic growth; 3) measures to accelerate energy technology innovation; and 4) ways to enhance energy security by making the energy system more resilient. The event is followed by a networking reception. 

Agenda

10.00-10.15 ● Welcome from the IEA Executive Director

Speaker: Dr Fatih Birol‌, IEA Executive Director

The Executive Director of the IEA will introduce the Agency’s key messages to COP 21 and his vision for the role of the IEA in supporting countries’ transformations of their energy sectors to low-carbon.

10.15-10.45 ● Scene-setter: The impact of INDCs on the energy sector

Speaker: Kamel Ben Naceur‌, IEA Director of Sustainable Policy and Technology

The INDCs that have been submitted by over 150 countries would, if fully implemented, dramatically slow the growth in energy related emissions, shifting the trajectory of operations and investment in the energy sector. This session will outline IEA’s analysis of the energy sector implications of INDCs.

10.45-12.30 ● Five key actions to peak global energy emissions, led by energy efficiency and renewables

Moderator: Laura Cozzi, Deputy Head of the Office of the Chief Economist, IEA

Speakers:

Paolo Frankl, Head of Renewable Energy Division, IEA 
Melanie Slade, Manager of energy efficiency in emerging economies, IEA
Matt Gray, Energy Analyst, IEA
Philippe Joubert, Chair, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group
Nathaniel Keohane, Vice President, Environmental Defence Fund

The IEA has identified a set of five actions – the Bridge Strategy – that support economic growth and energy access, and can lead global emissions to peak around 2020 using proven technologies. Moving beyond the INDCs with these cost-effective actions can keep the below-2°C goal within reach.

12.45-14.15 ● Accelerating energy technology innovation to make decarbonisation cheaper and easier

Moderator: Jean-Francois Gagne, Head of Energy Technology Policy Division, IEA‌

Speakers:

Juho Lipponen, Head of Unit, CCS, IEA
Cedric Philibert, Senior Analyst, RED, IEA
Eric Masanet, Head of Energy Demand Technology Unit, IEA
Marie Donnelly, European Commission Director, New and Renewable Sources of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Innovation 

Reducing the cost and improving the performance of low-carbon technologies are essential to make the transformation of energy systems affordable and feasible and thereby mobilising climate action. This session outlines the need and solutions for scaled up support and investment, and as well as the importance of collaboration among developed and developing countries, and public and private entities.

14.30-16.00 ● Using the Paris agreement to drive short-term actions consistent with long-term emission goals

Moderator: Jesse Scott, Energy Analyst, IEA

Speakers:

Christina Hood, Energy Analyst, Environment and Climate Chante Unit, IEA
Roberta Quadrelli, Energy Analyst, Head Energy Data, IEA
Jeanne Ng, Director of Sustainability, CLP Power
Mandy Rambharos, Climate Change and Sustainability Manager, Eskom

Transformational change of energy systems is needed to meet long-term climate goals. This session will focus on elements needed in the Paris agreement to drive a focus on transformation: a long-term emissions goal linked to a five-yearly review cycle of short-term targets, and a strong tracking framework that measures both achievement of short-term targets and progress toward longer-term energy sector transformation.

16.15-17.45 ● Enhancing energy security by making the energy system more resilient to climate change impacts

Moderator: Ellina Levina, Energy Analyst, Environment and Climate Change Unit, IEA

Speakers:

Timur Gül, Energy Analyst, World Energy Outlook Unit, IEA
Jan Bartos, Emergency Security Unit, IEA
Jean-Yves Caneill, Head of Climate Policy, Electricité de France
Ashok Bhargava, Director, Energy Division, East Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Olga Pilifosova, Manager Adaptation Programme, UNFCCC

The energy sector faces multiple threats from climate change, in particular from extreme weather events and increasing water stress. This session will focus on experiences and analysis to make energy systems ready to withstand climate change impacts, maintain critical energy services during extreme events, and recover quickly from any residual damages.

18.00-19.00 ● Networking reception