- 75 states and regions are generating 45% of their electricity from renewable sources
- States and regions have, on average, reduced emissions by 14% as global emissions continue to rise
- The Climate Group and CDP call for states and regions to set more ambitious emissions reduction targets for 2030 and beyond to limit global heating to 1.5˚C (2.7˚F)
LONDON, UK: State and regional governments around the world are advancing the global transition to renewable electricity, according to a new report released today by international non-profits The Climate Group and CDP, ahead of the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in December (COP25).
The Global States and Regions Annual Disclosure 2019, the most comprehensive account of state and regional climate action released to date, summarises data from 124 states and regions from 35 countries, representing US $17 trillion - 20% of the global economy, with a combined population of 669 million people.
It reveals that 75 states and regions are now powering their economies with 45% renewable electricity. By comparison, only 25% of global electricity is renewable.
Seven states and regions1 from across Norway, Sweden, Brazil and Peru are already powered by 100% renewable electricity, and a further five2 have committed to achieving this target.
Even more encouragingly, some governments are going beyond just producing and consuming electricity from renewable sources. Seven states and regions3, including Catalonia, Spain and Thuringia, Germany, have set ambitious plans to decarbonize their entire energy mix across all sectors such as industry, agriculture and transport.
Tim Ash Vie, Director of the Under2 Coalition of states and regions at The Climate Group, said:
"States and regions are crucial actors in addressing the climate crisis. They have the power to make significant emissions reductions across areas such as energy generation, land use and transport. They are continuing to make measurable progress in decarbonizing their electricity and are setting ambitious plans to be powered by 100% renewable energy, going further and faster than many national governments."
Kyra Appleby, Global Director, Cities, States and Regions at CDP, said:
"From Hawaii to Catalonia states and regions are setting ambitious net-zero emissions targets demonstrating their key role in reducing global emissions. We call on states and regions around the globe to rapidly reduce emissions by transitioning to renewable energy and stopping deforestation within their boundaries. The first step in action is disclosure, and we invite the states and regions of the world to join those represented in this report and share their climate strategies through CDP."
States and regions4 have on average reduced emissions by 14%5- significant progress as global average emissions have risen by 42%6.
However, despite state and regional climate targets for 2020 being on track, the report projects a slowing rate of emissions reductions over the next decade. This means the level of ambition for 2030 targets needs to be raised in order to limit global heating to 1.5°C.
Tim Ash Vie added:
"It is encouraging to see that the ambition of the targets for leading state and regional governments is increasingly in line with what is required to meet the 1.5˚C goal. However, as we enter the climate decade, states and regions now need to focus on 2030 and uplift their ambition."
Other findings:
- Net-zero targets: 11 states and regions have net-zero emissions goals for 20507 including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), California, Catalonia, New York State and Scotland (nine of which are members of the Under2 Coalition of states and regions)
- Adaptation & mitigation actions: States and regions disclosed over 650 actions they are taking to adapt to climate change and nearly 4,000 mitigation actions they are taking across 11 sectors
- Electro-mobility: 59 state and regional governments are installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their jurisdictions
- Deforestation: 82% of Latin American states and regions reporting forest data cited8 the main drivers for deforestation are small scale agriculture (21%), livestock farming (14%) and fires (14%)
