IRENA gathers leaders to set global renewable energy agenda

Government officials and leaders from international organizations are gathering this week for the Seventh Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

IRENA’s Seventh Assembly will bring together officials from more than 150 countries including 75 ministers, energy leaders, the private sector and civil society to set the global renewable energy agenda and take concrete action to accelerate the ongoing global energy transition, IRENA informed.

The Assembly will take place on January 14-16, 2017, in Abu Dhabi, with the focus on the critical role of renewable energy in powering economic growth, combating climate change, expanding energy access and meeting global sustainable development goals. A day of preliminary meetings and discussions will be held January 13.

Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA’s General Director, said: “2016 was a remarkable year for renewable energy. The falling costs of solar and wind power in markets around the world highlight the increasing cost-competitiveness of renewable energy which has become the preferred option for new power generation capacity in many countries around the world. In addition, innovations in technology and new business models are bringing renewable solutions to people who previously had no access to energy.

“These developments, coupled with the entry into force of the Paris Agreement and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underscore growing momentum for renewable energy and give fresh impetus to the case for transitioning to a sustainable energy future. Efforts now need to turn to scaling-up renewables in end-use sectors such as transportation, industry, and heating and cooling.”

The events to take place during the three days include, among others, discussions on the role of legislators in accelerating the deployment of renewables, renewable energy deployment in islands settings, a ministerial round-table that will discuss how off-grid renewables can be best integrated into national electrification strategies.