BAKU, Azerbaijan - The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is currently underway here from November 11 to 22. In a significant development, LONGi Green Energy has teamed up with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to launch the "Photovoltaics for Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative."
From XINHUA
BAKU, Azerbaijan - The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is currently underway here from November 11 to 22. In a significant development, LONGi Green Energy has teamed up with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to launch the "Photovoltaics for Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative."
Among those present at the launch were LONGi's Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zhang Haimeng, IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis, and Ant Group's Sustainable Development Director Wang Xiaoying.
The United Nations Environment Programme has identified climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution as the three major global challenges. As a front-runner in the photovoltaic industry, LONGi is well aware that innovations in renewable energy technologies like photovoltaics play a vital role not only in curbing greenhouse gas emissions but also in safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity. After consecutively releasing climate action white papers at COP events for three years since 2021, LONGi has now joined hands with IUCN at COP29 to enhance corporate climate action in tandem with biodiversity conservation efforts.
The newly launched initiative urges companies to formulate and execute measures in line with international multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It lays stress on adhering to global best practices to ensure that all activities comply with climate and biodiversity protection norms. The initiative also calls for the adoption of environmentally friendly approaches in the design, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects, improvement of energy efficiency, increased use of clean energy, cultivation of a corporate culture centered on biodiversity conservation, promotion of international cooperation through partnerships, and global sharing of best practices.
Stewart Maginnis of IUCN commented that LONGi's initiative represents a positive reaction to IUCN's guidelines concerning the impact of solar projects on biodiversity. He expressed the belief that this initiative could prompt broader actions across the industry and encourage more companies and organizations to engage in renewable energy development while minimizing their impact on the natural environment.