Sustainability accelerated needed for a carbon-neutral world

According to Rondolat, governments worldwide need to help realise a carbon neutral world by 2050 at the latest with companies committing to a more aggressive target of 2030. When it comes to what he described as the ‘low-hanging fruit of energy saving actions’, Rondolat will call for the following commitments:

• By 2020 all new buildings to be installed with LED or equivalent energy-efficient lighting.
• By 2025 all street lighting to be LED or equivalent energy-efficient lighting.
• By 2030 all existing corporate buildings should be fitted with LED or equivalent energy-efficient lighting.

During his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations later today, Rondolat will also call upon more companies and countries to join the Three Percent Club. This group of governments and organisations is committed to driving an increase of three percent energy efficiency each year using existing, cost-effective technologies and policy instruments. And if an increase of three percent energy efficiency is driven by the percent increase in renovation rates of buildings, combined with a three percent increase in use of renewables per year, Rondolat believes carbon neutrality can be achieved by 2050.

Signify has said it surpassed its five-year commitment to deliver two billion LED lamps and luminaires in support of the 'Global Lighting Challenge’. This Clean Energy Ministerial campaign set an industry-wide goal to achieve global sales of ten billion high-efficiency, high-quality and affordable advanced lighting products, such as LED lamps, between 2015 and 2020. The adoption of such energy-efficient lighting is seen as one of the most significant short-term initiatives to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

In December 2006, lighting accounted for 19% of global electricity consumption. This level was down to 13% in 2018 and is on track to decline further to eight percent by 2030.

“Energy efficiency is the one energy resource that all countries share in abundance, and it can help reduce emissions while enhancing peoples’ well-being. IEA analysis shows that all countries collectively can achieve much higher rates of progress on efficiency,” said Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

“We all need to step up our actions, and we need to do this together, as together we can go further. I commend the countries and companies of the three percent club for the leadership and ambition they are showing in committing to stronger efficiency action. I look forward to working with them to ensure the ambition is delivered.”

Signify is at the forefront of implementing energy efficiency measures through its ‘Brighter Lives, Better World’ program, focusing on sustainable operations and sustainable revenues. The company reduced its carbon footprint over the course of 2018 by 49%, used renewable electricity for 89% of all its electricity requirements and generated 79% of its revenues from energy-efficient products, systems and services.