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A CLIMATE OF INNOVATION – RESPONDING TO THE COMMODITY PRICE STORMThis year, 2016, and the coming decade will be guided and inspired by the landmark agreements achieved in 2015. Political and industry figures, whilst dealing with an exceptional commodity price storm, have shown leadership by embracing the new frontiers for energy and the climate of innovation.At a global level we have seen the adoption of energy as a sustainable development goal by the 193 countries of the UN General Assembly, at last formally recognising the role of energy as a critical enabler for development. At the start of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris twenty countries committed to double their clean energy research and development investment over the next five years. Building on the significant DR CHRISTOPH FREI, SECRETARY GENERAL, THE WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL (WEC)statements made by President’s Xi Jinping and Barack Obama during their meetings in Beijing and Washington, the “Mission Innovation” announcement is a positive step and very much at the heart of the climate agenda. Equally impressive were the commitments from the private sector though the “Breakthrough Energy Coalition” which intern was built on the “Global Apollo Programme”. Many other organisations including my own have worked to find practical ways to deal with critical uncertainties impacting the energy sector. Reports such as our World Energy Issues Monitor provide clear evidence of what is required. Unprecedented uncertainty in the energy sector very much set the context for the historic agreement between 195 countries at the conclusion of the 21st Conference of the Parties meeting. 086 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY