| 1. Growing demand for EKOenergy |
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In our previously shared Annual Report 2020, we gave an overview of our many activities and concrete results in 2020.
We are now proud to see that the work of our team and our licensees has led to increased sales and consumption of EKOenergy-labelled energy. The confirmed volumes for 2020 are already higher than the volumes of the previous year - despite the Covid-19 crisis. Thanks to all involved!
Good news: The growing trend seems to continue! In the first three months of 2021, we welcomed several new licensees and many new consumers, both large companies such as members of the RE100 and smaller consumers such as SMEs and households. For transitioning into 100% renewable energy, everyone is welcome, everyone is needed! |
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| "With our example, we [Olvi] want to show consumers how to go for sustainable energy solutions in their own lives and also encourage others to switch to environmentally friendly electricity." - Olvi explains why they buy EKOenergy-labelled electricity and why they use the EKOenergy logo on their products |
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| 2. Our new campaign focuses on the cosmetics sector |
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EKOenergy regularly sets up communication campaigns to promote the use of renewable energy by focusing on companies in a specific sector. By highlighting those that are already using EKOenergy-labelled energy, we encourage their peers to switch to 100% EKOenergy-labelled energy too.
Following our previous campaigns for the brewery sector and the fashion industry, this year we will focus on cosmetics brands. Several companies from the beauty sector are already using EKOenergy-labelled energy and we hope that many others will follow their example.
The EKOenergy ecolabel is a tool to facilitate active communication regarding consumers' commitment to renewable energy, both to their clients as well as to their supply chain. Interested in hearing more about the campaign or joining it? Contact us at info@ekoenergy.org. |
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| "Counting gas as green ignores the significant environmental effects of methane, whose impact on climate change is up to 84 times greater than CO2 in a 20-year timeframe. This means if only 3% of the gas leaks, it can cause more warming than coal." - EKOenergy and 200+ other signatories, in an open letter to the European Commission. |
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| 3. Concrete results from our Climate Fund |
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In the past weeks, we've received updates from two of the projects we recently financed through our Climate Fund.
With EKOenergy's support, solar panels are being installed in eight rural health centers in Analamanga region of Madagascar, where Santé Sud is setting up a network of midwives. These installations will give the midwives stable access to electricity at low running cost. The health centers now have electric lights and the staff can charge phones.
Meanwhile in China, the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation facilitated the installation of solar panels in a primary school in Gansu province, thanks to EKOenergy's grant. The project helps address unstable electricity supply and heating of the dorms, and contributes to improving local awareness regarding clean energy and the environment. |
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| 4. Green Energy UK is selected as "Best RE supplier in the UK" |
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EKOenergy licensee Green Energy UK has been ranked as the best supplier of renewable energy in the UK by the Ethical Consumer magazine. Congratulations!
Researchers of the magazine scored and ranked the ethical and environmental record of more than 20 energy suppliers. Their criteria included green tariffs, renewable generation, biogas, energy prices and the UK's renewables targets.
It's not surprising that as a committed renewable energy company, Green Energy UK were the first to launch an EKOenergy-labelled tariff in the UK, and are the first offering an EKOenergy-labelled gas tariff too.
Ethical Consumer magazine is urging consumers to ‘vote with their feet’ by choosing suppliers such as Green Energy UK. We need less talk, more action worldwide! |
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| "The EU has given recognition to the EKOenergy label with the European Citizens' Award in 2020. The motivation was, among other things, that the EKOenergy label contributes to raising awareness about nature and biodiversity in the energy market. The ecolabel helps consumers to switch to renewable energy and contributes to realising the Sustainable Development Goals. " - The Finnish National Agency for Education, in an article about EKOenergy. |
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| 5. We support actions and campaigns for a fossil-free world |
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Apart from promoting sustainable renewable energy, we also support the actions and campaigns of partner organisations aiming at speeding up the transition to a fossil-free world.
- EKOenergy endorsed the Banking on Climate Chaos report. After analysing fossil fuel financing from the world’s 60 largest commercial and investment banks, aggregating their leading roles in lending and underwriting of debt and equity issuances, this report found out that these banks poured a total of $3.8 trillion into fossil fuels from 2016–2020.
- We co-signed a letter to the European Commission, urging them not to open the door for false solutions such as fossil gas and coal-to-gas.
- In an open letter to World Bank Group, EKOenergy and many others are calling on the decision-makers to immediately adopt a whole-of-institution commitment to end all types of support for fossil fuels, both direct and indirect.
- Together with more than 350 others, we sent a letter to US president Joe Biden urging him to stop the construction of the Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline in Minnesota by suspending or revoking its federal permits. |
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| 6. Promoting renewables in Russian and Arabic |
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In order to share information and raise awareness regarding renewable energy use worldwide, we strive to make information available in local languages. We regularly upload new translations to our website.
Recently, EKO-Wael presented EKOenergy in Arabic on Alaraby TV, the interview is available with English subtitles on our YouTube channel.
On 16 April, EKO-Tamara will make a presentation in Russian about the available renewable energy solutions at the "Strengthening Nordic-Russian NGO network in promotion of climate change mitigation for local development" seminar in Kaliningrad. |
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| 7. Alarming methane emissions - Fossil gas is not a bridge fuel! |
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NOAA just published new alarming data about greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Levels of greenhouse gases continue to rise fast, despite the Covid-19 crisis. Methane levels are particularly alarming: Analysis of samples from 2020 showed a significant jump in the atmospheric burden of methane, which is far less abundant but 28 times more potent than CO2 at trapping heat over a 100-year time frame. NOAA’s preliminary analysis showed that the annual increase in atmospheric methane for 2020 was the largest annual increase recorded since systematic measurements began in 1983.
"Although increased fossil emissions may not be fully responsible for the recent growth in methane levels, reducing fossil methane emissions is an important step toward mitigating climate change," said research chemist Ed Dlugokencky.
The Financial Times article "Record surge in methane levels ‘surprising and disturbing’, say scientists" from 7 April 2021 also highlights this issue.
Leakage of methane is one of the main reasons why NGOs worldwide are upscaling their opposition against fossil gas. Fossil gas is not a bridge fuel! |
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We at EKOenergy are always enthusiastic to collaborate with new partners.
For further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch. |
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