Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – During the 30th meeting of its Council in Abu Dhabi, Thursday, the International Renewable Energy Agency “IRENA” reviews the progress made in its work and discusses collective priorities to accelerate the pace of global energy transformation.
More than 350 representatives will participate in the meeting to review progress made and priorities in support of the global goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030.
The meeting comes within the framework of ongoing preparations for the 30th Conference of the Parties “COP30” and the 16th General Assembly meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency “IRENA”.
The two-day meeting focuses on achieving the global goals set out in the UAE Agreement reached at COP28, following the agency’s recent launch of its latest progress tracking report at the pre-COP meeting in Brazil, which confirmed that despite the increased scope of renewable energy, progress is insufficient to stay on track to achieve the global goals.
As Chair of the 30th meeting of the IAEA Council, Francisco Chacón Hernández, Permanent Representative to the IAEA and Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UAE, said the Council is meeting at a time of renewed global opportunities ahead of COP30, and Costa Rica’s experience demonstrates that an energy system based on renewable energy sources can coexist with social progress, economic resilience, and environmental management.
He also noted that the scale of the current challenge requires working collectively, linking regions together, exchanging knowledge, and accelerating the pace of work
For his part, Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, stressed that the world is closer than ever to closing the gap, although adding 582 gigawatts of renewable energy in 2024 is still less than what is required to achieve the goal of tripling renewable energy.
However, it represents a new world record in the use of renewable energy for the third year in a row, reducing the gap between what has been achieved and what is needed
La Camera added that governments must show a leadership role and make the 30th Conference of the Parties in Brazil a milestone for renewable energy.
Program discussions address the role of “clean manufacturing” in promoting sustainable development.
Including by enhancing flexibility in supply chains for critical materials and renewable energy, the Council will be updated on the Agency’s efforts to enhance regional cooperation.
Members are also scheduled to exchange national experiences and explore options for enhancing international cooperation.
They are also exploring ways to expand access to investments needed to increase the use of renewable energy.
The results reached are expected to contribute to enriching the deliberations of the sixteenth meeting of the Agency’s General Assembly.
High-level ministers and representatives will meet in Abu Dhabi on January 11 and 12, 2026.
As the first energy ministerial meeting of the year, the General Assembly will assess global progress and set priorities for next year’s energy transition.
