PPCA events at the London Climate Action Week

On 28 and 30 June 2021, the PPCA hosted two events at the London Climate Action Week (LCAW) to boost momentum and empower countries and organisations to accelerate the transition away from coal power in the lead up to the UN Climate Summit COP26 in November this year.

Action to end coal power generation has recently rocketed to the top of the global political agenda, with COP President-Designate Alok Sharma announcing COP26 must “consign coal to history”, the blockbuster IEA Net Zero Roadmap calling for global coal phase-out by 2040, and the G7 commitment to end coal finance by the end of 2021.

PPCA events at the London Climate Action Week (LCAW) examined the current state of play of global coal phase-out efforts and set expectations on what needs to happen in the coming months to make COP26 a success, zooming in on the leadership required from European countries and the private sector. The Alliance announced twelve new members and partners, who will work with other PPCA members to ensure that at COP26 in Glasgow countries commit to ending coal power generation:

• European governments: Spain, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania,
• Polish region Eastern Wielkopolska and utility ZE PAK;
• Businesses and financial institutions: French asset manager Amundi; European Sustainable Investment Forum; Canadian utility Capital Power, engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The events also showcased government and business leaders who are stepping up their efforts, and shared knowledge and experience to help countries and organisations identify and implement solutions to accelerate their phase out efforts.

PPCA Net Zero Business Leaders Dialogue: Coal Phase-Out as the First Step to Net-Zero

28 June 2021, 16:00 – 17:00 BST

Coal phase-out policies are the first step businesses and finance institutions need to take ahead of COP26 to deliver on their net zero by 2050 goals. This PPCA event brought together C-suite leaders to discuss the importance of phasing out support for coal power to align with a net zero future and explain how firms can implement such commitments. The Alliance welcomed new influential private sector members and showcased accelerated efforts of current members. The event, and discussion, was moderated by Nigel Topping, UN High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26.

Speakers:

• Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister
• Claudia Kruse, Managing Director Global Responsible Investment & Governance, APG Asset Management
• Nicholas Spooner, Assistant Manager, Federated Hermes
• Caroline Le Meaux, Head of ESG Research, Engagement, and Voting policy at Amundi
• Brian Vaasjo, President and CEO of Capital Power
• Denise Bower, Mott MacDonald executive director
• Claire O’Neill, Managing Director of Climate & Energy at the Worldwide Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Watch the video recording of the event on the PPCA Youtube channel.

PPCA Europe Roundtable: Revitalising Energy Communities and Opportunities for Economic Growth

30 June 2021, 16:00 – 17:30 BST

European countries are accelerating their move away from coal power, with momentum for a faster energy transition spurred by the EU’s new 2030 climate target of 55% emission cuts. This PPCA event brought together leaders from European national and subnational governments and international organisations to discuss opportunities of setting an early coal phase out date for a just transition of the workforce and a new clean development pathway for coal regions. The Alliance welcomed new government members and showcased current PPCA members accelerating phase out in the region. The event was moderated by David Hostert, Head of EMEA Research at BNEF.

Speakers:

• Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK Energy Minister
• Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister
• Alok Sharma, COP26 President-Designate
• Teresa Ribera, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition
• Mladen Bojanic, Minister of Capital Investments of Montenegro
• Naser Nuredini, Minister of Environment of North Macedonia
• Leonore Gewessler, Austria’s Minister of Climate Action
• Dunja Mazzocco Drvar, Director of Climate Activities, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia
• Anna Bjerde, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia
• Ioannis Tzortzis, President, Just Transition Development Plan (JTDP) Legal Experts Committee, Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy
• Maciej Sytek, President of the Board of Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego in Konin and the Representative of the Board of the Wielkopolska Region for Restructuring of Eastern Wielkopolska
• Piotr Woźny, President of ZE PAK SA Capital Group

Watch the video recording of the event on the PPCA Youtube channel.

With support from

London Climate Action Week (LCAW), running from 26 June – 4 July, is harnessing the power of London for global climate action. The annual event brings together the city’s world-leading array of climate professionals and communities. Now in its third year, LCAW creates space for participants to come together and find global solutions to climate change. View the full programme of 150+ LCAW events here.