联合国贸易发展委员会推动贸易：微调太阳能和风能价值链的贸易政策（摘要）2024

Powering Trade: Fine-Tuning Trade Policy for Solar and Wind Energy Value Chains

Introduction

In the race against global warming, every fraction of a degree matters. Renewable energy holds the key to decoupling prosperity from CO2 emissions, which fuel global warming. It also has the potential to bring electricity to over 680 million people lacking access to electricity, thereby reducing poverty. To minimize dependency on fossil fuels, we must expand renewable energy production globally. This expansion necessitates faster growth in trade of renewable energy goods compared to previous decades. Trade policies must be reassessed to ensure they support rather than hinder the expansion of solar and wind energy technologies.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Despite efforts towards energy transitions, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. According to recent data, global emissions have been increasing, with a significant rise in CO2 equivalent emissions. The goal is to limit global warming to 1.5°C by reducing emissions and ensuring they peak before 2025.

Access to Electricity

Globally, 685 million people lack access to electricity, and many more rely on unreliable sources. As of 2022, the share of the population with access to electricity varies widely:

• Less than 25%: 12% of the population
• 25% to 50%: 38% of the population
• 50% to 75%: 25% of the population
• 75% and above: 15% of the population

Renewable Energy's Dual Power

Renewable energy offers two key benefits:

1. Decoupling prosperity from CO2 emissions.
2. Bringing electricity to millions of people, particularly in Africa.

Growth in Solar and Wind Power Capacity

The capacity for solar and wind energy is on the rise. In 2021, installed capacity for solar energy surpassed that for wind energy. The global trend shows a steady increase in renewable power capacity, with notable contributions from various regions.

Rising Global Trade in Renewable Energy Goods

Global trade in solar and wind energy goods is growing faster than other industrial goods. From 2012 to 2022, the trade index for these goods increased significantly, reflecting the rapid expansion of renewable energy markets.

Key Challenges and Opportunities

Despite progress, current growth is insufficient to meet the 2030 agenda. Trade policy plays a crucial role in reducing trade barriers and providing incentives to expand solar and wind energy technologies globally.

Complex Supply Chains

Solar and wind energy technologies involve complex supply chains, with multiple production stages and numerous products involved. These include raw materials, energy production components, and final products like solar cells and wind turbines.

Exporter Dominance

The top five exporters account for more than 40% of trade across various stages of the value chain. This highlights the importance of supporting these leading exporters in maintaining global trade dynamics.

Regional Trade Costs

Trade costs remain high, particularly in developing regions. For example, in Africa, intermediate stages face trade costs twice as high as those in Asia. Reducing these costs could significantly boost green energy industries, especially in Africa.

Border Measures and Trade Defence

Developing countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America, often face higher border costs compared to their external competitors. Additionally, Asian countries face double the number of trade defence measures compared to developed nations.

Conclusion

Lowering trade costs on intermediates could boost green energy industries, especially in Africa. Reducing border costs and addressing trade defence measures would foster greater intra-regional trade and support the expansion of renewable energy technologies worldwide.