Mission Impossible? Five Challenges Facing 'Mission Innovation', the Global Clean Energy Innovation Drive

In December 2015 the landmark Paris Climate Agreement was signed by 195 countries at the 21^st Conference of the Parties(COP21). Covering the period from 2020 it obligates all parties to take action to limit global temperature rise to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.To help deliver on this target world leaders established Mission Innovation (MI), an agreement between 21 regions to double their public ‘clean energy’ research and development (R&D) investment by 2021. Through international collaboration and coordination MI aims to usher in the next generation of clean energy technologies capable of mitigating catastrophic climate change. Whilst it represents a timely and much-need initiative MI is still at an early stage and faces a number of important challenges that policy makers need to address if it is to be a success.

First, a doubling of clean energy R&D investment within 5 years during a period of declining R&D public investment represents an unprecedented challenge. Its success will rely on MI members sharing best-practice in energy innovation policy to ensure not only that this increase is achieved but that it is delivered effectively, leading to high-quality innovation outputs.

Second, the political credibility and durability of anon-legally binding scheme is questionable when it demands all countries to double their total clean energy R&D investment despite some already committing significantly more investment as a proportion of their wealth than others (i.e.$ R&D per GDP).

Third, a clear enabling framework must make clear the scale and type of benefit each MI member will receive as proportion of their investment from multi-partner international R&D collaboration.

Fourth, a combination of international and cross-sectoral coordination of R&D investment is critical to ensuring a balanced distribution of investment across different clean energy priorities and stages of innovation.

Fifth, MI members need to carefully consider the carbon emissions reduction potential of their increased energy R&D investment in each priority area and how together these activities will contribute to a 2^oC future. 

Taking these recommendations into account will undoubtedly help transform the ground-breaking Mission Innovation from Mission Impossible to Mission Accomplished.