© Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; data from IRENA 2016

Across the world, there are 8.1 million people working in the renewables sector. China is in first place here (3.5 million jobs), followed by the European Union (1.2 million jobs). Brazil is in third place (some 900,000 jobs). Most jobs in the renewables sector are in the photovoltaics industry, followed by biomass and wind. This data is taken from the latest World Energy Outlook, which was presented in Berlin by Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on 30 November.

International Energy Agency: global energy transition needed

In its report, the IEA emphasises the need for a global energy transition. It says that the emissions reductions already agreed by the international community can slow the rise in global emissions, but that, even then, we would see temperatures rise by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100. Achieving the 2-degrees target set out in the Paris Climate Agreement would require major change within the energy sector.

Speaking at an event organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy at which the report was presented, State Secretary Rainer Baake said: “I share the IEA's assessment that greater efforts – including at international level – are now needed to improve energy efficiency levels and to consistently expand the use of renewables in power generation.” Referring to the employment effects of this, he said: “Decarbonisation does not mean de-industrialisation, but rather modernisation.”