Last Updated: 19 December 2023
The big climate conference of the year COP28 closed last week. Here, Christer Stoyell, MD of Severn Trent Green Power, gives his reaction to some of the outcomes.
The recent COP28 climate summit in Dubai marked a potentially significant step forward in the global effort to address the climate crisis. For the first time, all nations formally agreed to move away from fossil fuels and rapidly ramp up renewable energy.
There’s still plenty of disagreement and controversy on whether the deal goes far enough, but the key driver from this point will be tangible action to ensure the commitments made are upheld.
At Severn Trent Green Power, we’re fully embracing efforts to move forward with climate action, which is why we’re doing everything we can to both mitigate methane emissions produced by the UK’s food waste, and increase our renewable energy output through wind, solar and hydro technologies.
Several key agreements and declarations directly align with our mission and underscore the value of biogas and other renewables in addressing climate change.
1. The ‘triple renewable energy’ goal
One of the headline agreements was the so-called UAE Consensus, or triple renewable energy goal. It’s an ambitious target to increase installed renewable energy sources globally three-fold – a target of 11TW of green power.
This aligns perfectly with what we do. Through the generation of biogas, we’re not only creating renewable energy, but mitigating methane emissions. And with our portfolio of solar farms, and wind and hydro turbines, our diverse platform for green energy generation puts us in an excellent place to contribute to the end goal. Our growth this year alone (30% year on year) is testament to our ambitions to drive up renewable energy production.
2. Recognition of biogas's role in net-zero transition
COP28 delegates acknowledged the important role of biogas in the transition to net-zero emissions, which validates what we’re doing in our growing sector. Biogas, generated from organic waste offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner energy mix.
3. Call for increased support for anaerobic digestion
To accelerate the deployment of anaerobic digestion, COP28 called for increased support from governments and the private sector. This support could include financial incentives, technical assistance, and regulatory frameworks that would enable companies like ours to expand their operations and contribute more effectively to reducing methane emissions.
For me, while the jury may well still be out, COP28 offers a renewed sense of urgency and direction in the fight against climate change. I’m encouraged by the recognition of biogas's role in mitigating methane emissions and transitioning to a net-zero future and I’m proud of the part we play in this journey, contributing to a healthier planet through renewable energy sources. We will continue to innovate and expand our operations, and to accelerate the deployment of new energy production wherever we can.
The commitments made at COP28 provide a strong foundation for Severn Trent Green Power to continue its mission, fuelling our future with cleaner energy and contributing to a sustainable world. What matters now is action across the board.