NEWS RELEASE

New York, 24 September 2019 – At the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, Mission Innovation (MI) members reiterated their ongoing commitment and the importance of accelerating clean energy innovation to meet long-term climate goals and provide affordable, reliable and secure energy supplies.

Several new initiatives and coalitions that will spur clean energy innovation were launched or endorsed by individual members of Mission Innovation at the UN Climate Action Summit. The MI Innovation Challenge on Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings endorsed the Cool Coalition, which will bring together governments, businesses and international organizations to accelerate progress towards clean and efficient cooling. India and Sweden as co-leads of the industry track launched the Leadership Group for the Industry Transition, which recognises the role of MI to engage “eco-systems” of companies that would like to investigate, pilot and scale the technology needed across value chains. As energy transition track co-leads, Denmark has facilitated the launch of the Decarbonizing Shipping: Getting to Zero Coalition. The Mission Possible Platform, convened by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the Energy Transitions Commission, will facilitate public-private innovation efforts in harder-to-abate sectors. Mission Innovation will explore opportunities to work with these initiatives beyond the Summit with interested members.

“The UN Climate Action Summit is a moment for leaders across government, business and civil society to show how they are stepping up their climate ambition and taking practical actions,” said Luis Alfonso de Alba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Action Summit. “Mission Innovation’s engagement across this event highlights the central importance of innovation in moving the needle at scale on climate ambition and action. As initiatives announced at the Climate Action Summit are all designed – and need to be – scaled up following the Summit, Mission Innovation will be an important partner in enabling and driving this crucial scale-up.”

“Mission Innovation is the key platform bringing governments together to boost global clean energy innovation and I’m therefore delighted that our members and collaborating organisation are launching these new initiatives that will support our collective efforts.” said Professor John Loughhead, Chair of MI Steering Committee. “Mission Innovation members are committed to working with key actors to drive forward impact and over the next year, we will explore how to further raise ambition and accelerate clean energy innovation to bring affordable, reliable clean energy to communities around the world”.

Mission Innovation members participated in a number events throughout the Summit, demonstrating the integral role the initiative plays in the clean energy landscape. Building on the recent MI-4 Ministerial, held in Canada, which brought together innovators and investors, including youth, MI was pleased to partner with the UN Secretary General’s team, Student Energy and EDF at the Youth Summit to bring together 400 youth activists for an inspiring showcase of emerging innovators. Through its work with Student Energy and the MI Champions Program, MI continues provide opportunities for young leaders and mid-career researchers to work with international Ministers and industry leaders to address some of the biggest challenges of our century.

“This is a crucial time for governments, and industry to work with young people to accelerate the speed of our energy transition,” said Meredith Adler, Executive Director of Student Energy. “At MI-4, we demonstrated that intergenerational collaboration is a crucial tool for unlocking the new ideas and innovative solutions we need. Student Energy is excited to work with MI here in New York, and we hope to continue to work together to integrate young people into the future of the organization. “

Looking forward to COP26, Mission Innovation will focus on efforts that build on this momentum to raise ambition across both the public and the private sectors to deliver the energy innovation required to meet climate, energy access and energy security goals.

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Contact:
Mission Innovation Secretariat
secretariat@mission-innovation.net

For more information:
• Mission Innovation Statement at the UN Climate Action Summit
• MI “By the Numbers” infographic
• MI Impact Review: The Story so Far
• MI Country Highlights report