Renewable Energy & Sustainability Heroes by GineersNow Engineering GineersNow Engineering Magazine Issue No. 017, Ren | Page 25

REN21
(Renewable Policy Network for the 21st Century)
By Christine Lins, Executive Secretary
“Why don’t you look for a proper job?” was what
I was told. It was 2000 and renewables were
still in their infancy. Leaving Austria to set up an
umbrella organisation for the European renewable
energy industry in Brussels was not seen by
many as a promising career option. country doesn’t necessarily work in another.
Finding solutions for some sectors is easier
than for others. The stakes are high – financially,
environmentally and socially – and as the
transition progresses, there will be clear winners
and losers.
Well, I guess reality has caught up with them!
Less than two decades later, renewable energy
accounted for 86% of all new EU power
installations; China became the renewable energy
powerhouse of the world; and more than half of
global renewable energy investments happened
in emerging economies and developing countries.
And this does not event include the debate about
achieving 100% renewables by mid-century. I have been able to witness the rise of the
renewable energy industry, first in Europe and
now at a global level as REN21’s Executive
Secretary. At REN21 we work to “connect the
dots” between the public and the private sectors
to drive the global energy transition. We do this
through a multi-stakeholder network of renewable
energy experts. My work is to make sure that
REN21 supports this energy transition with
the best information possible. Building a solid
foundation has been key: formalising REN21
as a not-for-profit organisation; broadening the
network to expand stakeholder participation;
and growing the secretariat. The result has
been impressive. Today REN21 produces the
industry standard on renewab le energy data with
its annual Renewables Global Status Report
established as the world’s most frequently
Riding on the momentum of the Paris Agreement,
there is consensus that we have to radically re-
consider how we produce and consume energy.
Holding global average temperature rise well
below 2°C, not to mention a much safer limit
of 1.5°C, requires nothing short of a complete
decarbonisation of the energy sector. There is
no one way to achieve this; what works in one
Renewable Green Leaders • May 2017
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