 "Windmill")
A 36% share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030 would increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by nearly $1.3 trillion, generating millions of jobs and helping countries like India dependent on importing oil and gas, a new study says.
'Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring the Economics', released today at Abu Dhabi during the International Renewable Energy Agency's (IRENA) sixth assembly session, provides the first global estimate of the macroeconomic impacts of renewable energy deployment.
Specifically, the report highlights the benefits that would be achieved under the scenario of doubling the global share of renewable energy by 2030 from 2010 levels.
“The recent Paris Agreement sent a strong signal for countries to move from negotiation to action and rapidly decarbonise the energy sector," said Adnan Z Amin, IRENA Director-General.
“This analysis provides compelling evidence that achieving the needed energy transition would not only mitigate climate change, but also stimulate the economy, improve human welfare and boost employment worldwide," he said.
Beyond finding that global GDP in 2030 would increase by up to $ 1.3 trillion — more than the combined economies of Chile, South Africa and Switzerland as of today — the report also analyses country-specific impact.
Japan would see the largest positive GDP impact (2.3 %) but Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea would also see growth of more than 1 % each.
According to the report, improvements in human welfare would go well beyond gains in GDP thanks to a range of social and environmental benefits.
The impact of renewable energy deployment on welfare is estimated to be three to four times larger than its impact on GDP, with global welfare increasing as much as 3.7 %.
Employment in the renewable energy sector would also increase from 9.2 million global jobs today, to more than 24 million by 2030, the report said.
A transition towards greater shares of renewables in the global energy mix would also cause a shift in trade patterns, as it would more than halve global imports of coal and reduce oil and gas imports, benefiting large importers like Japan, India, Korea and the European Union.
Fossil fuel exporting countries would also benefit from a diversified economy.
The report builds on previous IRENA analysis on the socio-economic benefits of renewable energy and on REmap 2030, a renewable energy roadmap to doubling the global share of renewable energy by 2030.
