SPIREC 2023 conference in Madrid -where are we in Europe with renewable energies

Is the european union on track to meet its

2030 climate target of reducing greenhouse gases by at least 55% below 1990 levels? Renewable energy is a key part of the ‘Fit for 55’ plan and that is what is being discussed at the Spanish International Renewable Energy Conference (SPIREC).

The Madrid conference takes place against the backdrop of a crippling global energy crisis caused by a heavy dependence on fossil fuels.

In addition to representatives of the European Commission, hundreds of officials from organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme, academia, civil society and the business sector will also be present. And they had one general goal in mind: to accelerate the transition to a stable and reliable energy system based on renewable energies.

SPIREC is jointly organized by REN21 [LINK] and the Spanish government. The most recent Renewables 2022 Global Status Report (GSR2022) of REN states21 found that fossil fuels accounted for the majority of the increase in final energy consumption (+4% in 2021), leading to the highest increase in carbon dioxide emissions carbon footprint in history (+2 billion tonnes globally in 2021), extreme public spending on fossil fuel subsidies - $5.9 trillion in 2020 - and woefully underinvested in renewable energy sources worsen this dire situation. However, renewable energies are not only good business for the environment, the planet and future generations, but also an opportunity to preserve the energy sovereignty of individual nations.