PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – Offshore wind has the potential to power the world four times over. It’s imperative that the world harnesses this source of energy if we want to meet our climate goals and protect the ocean from its single greatest threat.  

At the Our Ocean 2023 Conference in Panama City, Panama, Ocean Conservancy was the first nongovernmental organization to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), referred to as the Alliance. The Alliance’s objective is to drive the uptake of offshore wind around the world to achieve a minimum capacity of 380 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an installed capacity increase of at least 70 GW  per year from 2030 on.  

“Ocean Conservancy supports a responsible expansion of offshore wind energy as an essential element of the renewable energy mix needed to reach a clean energy future and address the climate crisis. We believe it’s possible to make transformative changes in our climate and energy strategies as part of a clean ocean energy transition,” said Kacky Andrews, Ocean Conservancy’s Chief Strategy Officer. “By acting in a rapid, responsible and just manner we can ensure this transition minimizes any harm and maximizes long-term conservation and well-being for our ocean and communities.” 

Offshore wind energy is a proven climate solution.  Countries around the world have already deployed the technology to successfully provide increasingly cheaper sources of renewable energy to their power grids with the costs of offshore wind decreasing by 50% since 2010. While technical capacity for offshore wind exists in 115 countries, only 19 countries have installed a total of 55.7 GW to date. The pace and scale of offshore wind development must increase rapidly to avoid a climate disaster. 

To speed up deployment in a responsible way, public and private sector actors across the offshore wind value chain need to work together to remove the barriers to scaling up investment and finance. In addition, there needs to be a renewed focus on technology transfer and technical assistance for offshore wind development, particularly in developing countries. In a promising sign that industry is moving in this direction, the energy company Ørsted also joined the Alliance at the Our Ocean 2023 Conference.  

The Alliance launched at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council. Nine countries were a part of the initial launch.   

Existing Alliance members welcomed Ocean Conservancy as the first non-governmental organization to sign on.  

“Offshore wind is central to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and phasing out fossil-based energy. We are thrilled to have one of the world’s foremost marine conservation organizations joining the Global Offshore Wind Alliance to create momentum and drive action on the ground for sustainable deployment of offshore wind,” said Tomas Anker Christensen, Denmark’s Climate Ambassador. 

Scaling up the Alliance will require more members to join from all sectors. Organizations, such as Ocean Conservancy, joining the Alliance will play a key role in ensuring the needs of the ocean and those who rely on it aren’t forgotten while the world builds a clean energy future. 

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About Ocean Conservancy 

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.