Florence, Italy, 11-12 September 2017
The Global Geothermal Alliance has convened its present High-Level Conference in Florence, capital city of the Region of Tuscany, where the world’s first geothermal power plant came into operation in 1913.
We, high-level representatives of the members1 of the Alliance, attending this High Level Conference at the invitation of the Italian Government and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA);
Recalling that the Alliance was launched in 2015 at COP21 – the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – to serve as a global platform for enhanced dialogue, co-operation and co-ordinated action among policy makers, geothermal industry and other stakeholders to address the challenges hindering accelerated development of geothermal energy;
Recalling the Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015, “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
Recalling the Paris Agreement adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC on 12 December 2015, which entered into force on 4 November 2016, with the objective of limiting the rise in global temperature to well below two degrees Celsius;
Recognising that unlocking investments in the sector on a global scale would increase the deployment of geothermal energy, both for power generation and direct use of heat, and thereby contribute to the global energy transformation that calls for securing affordable, reliable, cleaner sources of modern energy services;
Hereby propose to constitute a High-Level Gathering of the Alliance, which should meet periodically to maintain dialogue, collaboration and exchange of knowledge, adhering to the highest standards and principles of international partnership;
Reaffirm the commitment of Alliance members to an ambitious goal, namely fivefold growth in the installed capacity of geothermal power generation and more than two-fold growth in geothermal heating by 2030, using the world’s best available technologies and considering regional specificities;
Support the Alliance as a knowledge-sharing platform that can serve to expand information on geological context, exploration, deep drilling and production technologies to provide modern and sustainable energy services for all countries, and particularly developing countries, including Small Island Developing States and landlocked countries;
Endorse the implementation of the Alliance’s Action Plan, adopted by Alliance members in May 2016, which covers: (1) Resource and Market Assessment; (2) Needs and Obstacles Assessment; (3) Enabling Frameworks; and (4) Global Network Development; with the aim to promote geothermal energy as part of a sustainable energy future, consistent with prosperity for all people and the whole planet;
Welcome IRENA’s key role in co-ordinating and facilitating the Alliance’s activities;
Encourage and support actions to strengthen the necessary policy, legal, regulatory, fiscal and capacity-building frameworks to increase geothermal energy development worldwide;
Support scientific research, technological development and pilot projects targeting solutions towards near-zero or zero-emission installations, aimed at developing and adopting the best available technologies for the environmentally sustainable exploitation of geothermal sources;
Welcome initiatives to strengthen the participation of local communities in improving evidence-based knowledge on safety, costs and benefits of geothermal energy;
Recognise the role of Regional and Local Authorities in promoting renewable energy sources, particularly geothermal, at the local level;
Reaffirm our commitment to create and strengthen broad public support for geothermal energy, along with wider awareness campaigns to promote renewable
energy and energy efficiency; and
Agree to continue our dialogue to further develop the work of the Alliance.
Florence, Italy
11 September 2017