IRENA at COP28 – Accelerating Energy Transition
The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), taking place in the United Arab Emirates this year, will bring together 200+ countries, companies, civil society organizations, NGOs, academics, youth and more to discuss their progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change yet.
As the global community prepares for the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake at COP28, immediate action to course correct the 1.5°C pathway remains a top priority. IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook (WETO) 2023 shows that on average, 1 000 GW of renewables power needs to be added each year to triple renewables power capacity to 11,000 GW by 2030.
IRENA is engaging directly with the COP28 Presidency to accelerate the energy transition and advance in the pathway to the 1.5°C goal. IRENA’s Global Renewables Hub will put the rapid scale up of renewable energy at the heart of this year’s COP. Together with the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and REN21 as a strategic partner, IRENA will build a shared space at the centre of the Blue Zone, bringing together policymakers, industry experts and key stakeholders from around the world to work together and drive the renewable-based energy transition.
At the Pre-COP28 in Abu Dhabi a new report on authored by IRENA, Global Renewable Alliance (GRA) and COP28 Presidency will be launched. This report will present the enablers and renewable energy generation capacity targets to 2030 required to enable the tripling of renewable energy capacity as part of the WETO framework to achieve a just energy transition. Drawing on this analysis and in line with the priority areas outlined by the COP28 Presidency, IRENA has developed and implemented targeted initiatives that reflect the Agency’s holistic approach to energy transitions.
Spotlight on IRENA’s Initiatives at COP28
Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform (ETAF)
IRENA’s Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform is an inclusive, multistakeholder climate finance platform focused on advancing the global energy transition in developing countries. By bringing together a diverse network of partners, the ETAF Platform enables the financing of renewable energy projects giving developers access to various de-risking solutions and financing opportunities as a way of advancing their energy projects.
Alliance for Industry Decarbonization
The Alliance for Industry Decarbonization, launched at COP27, formed of leading companies across all industry sectors, aims to decarbonise industrial value chains and accelerate net-zero ambitions in accordance with the Paris Agreement through six pillars and enablers: renewables, green hydrogen, bioenergy, utilisation and storage, heat process optimisation, human capital, and finance.
Empowering Lives and Livelihoods
Recognising the crucial role of renewables in adaptation and climate resilience and building on the Agency’s long-standing experience in bridging energy nexus issues, IRENA and the UAE will officially launch the Empowering Lives and Livelihoods – Renewables for Climate Action initiative at COP28. This multi-stakeholder partnership aims to commit USD 1 billion towards renewables for adaptation to connect people and livelihoods through renewable solutions in agri-food and health sectors in LDCs and SIDS.
Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa
The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa is a partnership formed between IRENA, Kenya, Denmark, Germany and the UAE, that focuses on three key areas: mobilising finance, providing technical assistance and capacity building, and engaging with the private sector. Currently, Africa is home to 17 percent of the world’s population but receives only 2 percent of worldwide investment in renewable energy.
Youth engagement initiatives
The IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen) programme and IRENA Youth Award are two interlinked initiatives that harness youth potential, mobilise youth action, and serve as a global showcase for youth-led innovation and solutions in the climate-energy space. With an initial cohort of 22 youth-led startups, the NewGen programme contributes to building renewable energy skills and capacities of youth while providing mechanisms to support and fund youth innovations.
IRENA events at COP28
The Global Renewables Hub in the Blue zone invites COP28 participants to engage in a range of renewable energy and energy transition focused events.
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 17:00 – 18:30 |
| High Level Event on Tripling Renewable Energy Global Pledge This high-level event allows Heads of States and Ministerial-level participants to discuss the path forward in achieving the global goals of tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. Expected outcomes include identifying critical success factors, immediate implementation opportunities, exploring options for coordinating and monitoring the pledge's implementation, and future convening. |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 12:00 – 13:15 |
| The impact of crime on critical material supply chains for the green energy transition A recent IRENA report on Geopolitics of the Energy Transition Critical Materials suggests the lack of a formal structure and the wide geographical reach of artisanal and small-scale mining can result in the extraction, trade, and sale of commodities via unofficial channels. This event will discuss multi-stakeholder approaches to strengthening action for preventing and combatting criminal and illegal activities in the mining sector, while promoting sustainable extraction procedures and formalisation in the extractive industry. |
| 17:15 – 18:00 |
| Shift to renewables in South East Europe: NDCs and NECPs as financial roadmaps IRENA, Energy Community Secretariat, Energy Community Contracting Parties, European Union Member States, as well as international financial institutions will discuss guiding principles for financing a green transition, focusing on the current opportunities and barriers for renewable energy financing. Discussion will include the role of National Determined Contributions and National Energy and Climate Plans in guiding the allocation and mobilisation of financial resources for renewable energy projects, among others. |
| IRENA Pavilion (First floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 14:00 – 15:15 |
| Community-led projects: transitioning remote communities to renewable energy |
| 18:00 – 19:00 |
| Climate impact on renewable resources and rising energy demand |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 12:00 – 13:15 |
| Renewables for Climate Action: Launch of the Empowering Lives and Livelihoods initiative At COP28, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and IRENA are set to introduce “Empowering Lives and Livelihoods – Renewables for Climate Action”, an initiative designed to close energy access gaps, focusing on food security, health, gender equality, and job creation. This high-profile event marks the start of the initiative, assembling key participants to tackle issues within the agriculture and health sectors amid the energy transition. |
| 14:00 – 15:15 |
| Parliamentary Accountability Summit IRENA in collaboration with the Climate Vulnerable Forums Global Parliamentary Group, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Global Renewables Congress is convening an Accountability Summit for parliamentarians at COP28. The Summit will explore the role of parliamentarians and how governments can promote increased accountability to ensure that the decisions and policies are in place to achieve commitments to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C and scale up climate financing. |
| 18:00 – 19:00 |
| Empowering Lives and Livelihoods: Renewables and Entrepreneurship |
| IRENA Pavilion (First floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 10:00 – 11:15 |
| Just transitions in the Global South: community perspectives from South Africa and Indonesia |
| 14:00 – 15:15 |
| Empowering Lives and Livelihoods: showcasing opportunities to integrate renewables in agri-food and health value chains |
| 16:00 – 17:15 |
| Energising Africa: navigating investments in renewable technologies |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 8:30 – 10:00 |
| Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa |
| 10:15 – 11:30 |
| Accelerating energy transition through project facilitation and partnerships IRENA bolstered its assistance to member countries’ energy transition initiatives, establishing the Project Facilitation and Support Division. The event aims to highlight the advancements in IRENA’s project facilitation interventions and announce new partnerships for the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) and Climate Investment Platform (CIP). The objectives include boosting funding and de-risking instruments through ETAF to support transformative energy transition projects. |
| 12:15 – 13:30 |
| Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) Ministerial: From Targets to turbines: Next Steps in Offshore Wind The Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) Energy Day Ministerial Event aims to foster dialogue on policy refinement, innovative financing, and skills development in the offshore wind sector, aligning with climate objectives and catalysing finance, investments, and socio-economic benefits. |
| IRENA Pavilion (First floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 10:00 – 11:15 |
| Mitigating climate change with 100% renewable energy |
| 14:00 – 15:15 |
| High-level dialogue on project facilitation |
| 17:30 – 18:30 |
| Tripling renewable power by 2030: a legislators dialogue |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 14:00 – 15:15 |
| High-Level Roundtable Renewable Energy and Climate Action in the GCC: Achievements, Plans and Priorities In a high-level roundtable, IRENA brings together Ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as high-level stakeholders from the private sector, the international community and IRENA’s Coalition for Action. Discussion will be based on relevant findings of the newly launched IRENA report, Renewable Energy Market: the GCC 2023. A set of policy recommendations prepared by leading investors in the region will complement the event. |
| IRENA Pavilion (First floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 10:00 – 11:15 |
| Investing in human capital to enable the energy transition |
| 16:00 – 17:15 |
| Renewables – How to implement REN capacity in emerging and mature markets |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 16:00 – 17:15 |
| Enabling Youth Action on SDG7 |
| 17:15 – 18:00 |
| Energising the Future: Connecting Young Energy Leaders A networking event. |
| IRENA Pavilion (First floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 16:00 – 17:15 |
| Championing energy transitions through effective regulation |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 10:00 – 11:15 |
| Bridging the renewable energy investment gap: The crucial role of public finance A presentation will analyse the investment patterns in renewable energy over the last decade, scrutinising technology, sector, region, and financial sources. Following this, a panel discussion will delve into the findings and discuss approaches to improve renewable energy finance in developing economies. The discussion will specifically address the role of public funds, particularly those involved in international collaborations. |
| IRENA Pavilion (Ground floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 10:00 – 11:15 |
| Decarbonising the planet: Youth’s contributions to the energy transition |
| 14:00 – 15:15 |
| Green hydrogen policymaking in developing countries |
| IRENA Pavilion (First floor) GULF STANDARD TIME (GST) |
|---|
| 12:00 – 13:15 |
| Innovative renewable solutions in agriculture |
| 16:00 – 17:15 |
| Harnessing data for the energy transition |