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Tomorrow marks the commencement of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) highly anticipated 14th Assembly in Abu Dhabi, running from April 17 to 18, 2024. Chaired by Rwanda, the Assembly is poised to convene over 1,300 participants from 144 countries, including government ministers, industry magnates, and CEOs. The primary objective: to collectively strategize on advancing the global energy transition in the wake of COP28’s inaugural Global Stocktake.
Under the banner of “Outcome of COP28: Infrastructure, Policies, and Skills for Tripling Renewables and Accelerating the Energy Transition,” the 2024 Assembly will scrutinize priorities for the energy transition. The immediate focus is on hastening progress towards the ambitious goal of tripling renewable power capacity to at least 11 terawatts (TW) by 2030.
While acknowledging the acceleration of the energy transition, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera sounded a cautionary note, highlighting the stark reality of falling short of targets. Recent data reveals the deployment of only 473 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable power capacity in 2023, significantly below the annual requirement of almost 1,100 GW.
La Camera stressed, “The energy transition is gathering pace, but it’s evident that we are veering off course, with an unacceptable disparity in renewable growth that disproportionately affects the Global South. Urgent global intervention is imperative to rectify this imbalance, or else our collective aim to triple renewable power capacity by 2030 may remain elusive.”
In his address, 14th IRENA Assembly President and Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, H.E. Dr. Jimmy Gasore, emphasized the multifaceted nature of the energy transition. He underscored the need to ensure equity and justice, asserting, “As we convene in Abu Dhabi, let us harness the IRENA Assembly’s convening power to ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are universally accessible, prioritizing the most marginalized communities.”
To foster unprecedented levels of political impetus and international collaboration, the Assembly will host Ministerial and High-level sessions, alongside the Pre-Assembly Day today, April 16, 2024. These sessions will delve into pressing issues such as investment challenges, innovation, infrastructure, regional cooperation, policy frameworks, and private sector engagement.
In line with the inclusive ethos of the Assembly, today’s agenda includes the Legislators Forum, Public-Private Dialogue, and Youth Forum, providing diverse stakeholders with a platform to contribute insights and shape the energy transition agenda. |
