Only 40% of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) parties prioritise adaptation in the energy sector.

Nationally Determined Contribution, is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

According to the latest World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report, a lack of recognition has resulted in a lack of demand and finance.

Climate adaptation investments in the energy sector continue to be extremely low, totaling slightly more than $300 million per year in 2019-2020.

The current pledges made by countries, according to the report, fall far short of what is required to meet the Paris Agreement's objectives of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, leaving a 70% gap in the amount of emissions reductions required by 2030.

It also stated that the 3.7 TW pledged from renewables in the 56% of NDCs with quantified renewable power targets in 2030, if implemented, would be less than half of what is needed to keep the 2 °C goal alive. To meet the long-term global temperature goal set by the Paris Agreement, 7.1 TW of clean energy capacity must be installed by 2030.

According to the World Bank, the necessary policies and regulations to enable energy decarbonisation to remain particularly weak in Africa, South America, and Asia. Only 6% of NDCs mention climate services for energy mitigation.

The energy sector is the largest source of GHG emissions, accounting for nearly three quarters of global emissions, as countries have been urged to make a concerted effort to transition to low-carbon energy.

CO2 concentrations reached 149% of pre-industrial levels in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), and supply from low-emissions sources must double by 2030 if the world is to reach net zero by 2050. Total energy supply is expected to decline by 7% to 50% (up to 65%).

According to the IEA, low-emission energy sources will account for 16% of total energy supply by 2030, a significant increase from the current level of around 25%.

"A transition to renewable energy, therefore, constitutes an essential contribution to alleviating growing global water stresses."

Because renewable energy systems are weather and climate dependent, the report calls for improved climate information and energy sector services.

"Climate services are needed to ensure the resilience of energy systems to climate-related shocks and to inform measures to increase energy efficiency. Risk assessments addressing planning and early warning of adverse events affecting energy supply and demand can help populations to anticipate, absorb, accommodate and recover from adverse impacts.

For example, early weather warnings can safeguard energy supply in Beijing (China), climate stress tests can ensure effective electricity distribution in the Dolomites region of Italy, and severe weather warnings can protect offshore wind power production in China.

Climate services are also essential for renewable energy, including for site selection, resource assessment and financing; operations, maintenance and management of energy systems; electricity integration into the grid; and impact assessment of energy systems."

According to the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), a significant increase in annual energy investment from just over US$ 2 trillion globally to nearly US$ 5 trillion by 2030 is required for a radical transformation of the global energy system. Current levels of investment in renewable energy must also at least triple in order for the world to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The majority of renewable energy investments in 2019-2020 were made in East Asia and the Pacific region (primarily in China and Japan), followed by Western Europe and North America (primarily in the United States and Canada).

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the CPI, developing and emerging economies continue to be underrepresented in terms of access to clean energy finance.

"Further, only two percent of such investment in the last two decades was made in Africa. International public financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy decreased in 2019 for the second year in a row, falling to US$ 10.9 billion. This level of support was 23% lower than the US$ 14.2 billion provided in 2018, 25% lower than the 2010–2019 average, and less than half of the peak of US$ 24.7 billion in 2017," the report captured.

Africa currently accounts for less than three percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions and has the lowest emissions per capita of any region.

With increasing flows of climate finance, global ambitions for reducing emissions with declining clean technology costs hold new promise for Africa's future. Achieving Africa's energy and climate goals will require more than doubling energy investment this decade, as well as a significant increase in adaptation.

According to the World Meteorological Organization's most recent report, African countries have the lowest percentage of modern renewable systems, accounting for only 7.6% of total energy consumption, and Africa has received only 2% of global investments in renewable energy over the last two decades. Nonetheless, the continent has enormous resource potential, especially for solar energy systems, but also for wind and hydropower.

The region also has enormous potential for solar energy system deployment: Africa has 60% of the world's best solar resources but only 1% of installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity.

According to the IEA, providing access to modern energy for all Africans requires an annual investment of US$ 25 billion, or about 1% of global energy investment today.

According to the IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE), by 2050, renewable energy will meet the majority of global electricity needs, with solar being the single largest source of supply in terms of installed capacity. African countries have the potential to be major market players.

Since 2019, WMO has published annual reports on the state of climate services in order to provide scientifically based information to aid in climate adaptation and mitigation.

This year's WMO State of Climate Services report focuses on energy, a topic that continues to dominate discussion and debate because it affects every single community, business, sector, and economic sector around the world.

The report calls for more effective climate services to help create appealing market conditions, expand renewable energy infrastructure, and promote clean energy system efficiency and climate resilience.