Governments around the world have to change policies surrounding renewable energy if we are to avoid the devastating effects of climate change. That was the message from the International Energy Agency (IEA) to the third Clean Energy Ministerial in London this morning.

Richard Jones, Deputy Executive Director at the IEA told delegates: “Under current policies energy use and carbon dioxide emissions would increase by a third by 2020 and almost double by 2050. This scenario would increase the chances of a rise in global temperatures of at least six degrees. Such an outcome would force future generations to deal with significant economic and environmental security impacts.

“Collaboration is key. Only by working together can we make progress in the scale and pace required.”

Hosting the talks was UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey, who told delegates to concern themselves with the business case for going green: “We must create the right frameworks for investment, sending clear signals to the businesses who will lead the low-carbon transition. We must encourage innovation and do what we can to bring clean technologies to market.”

The green sector has had a rough few months, following the revelation that worldwide investment in clean technologies had dropped in the last quarter to its lowest since 2006.

However, Mr Davey said that the current problem with finance gave the international talks more gravitas: “The threat of an investment squeeze makes our task more urgent, not less.”