Welcome to the Pre-Assembly Day of the Fifteenth session of the IRENA Assembly, conducted under a theme: Accelerating the Renewable Energy Transition – The Way Forward (Energy security, Socio-economic development and Financing options). This Assembly session will gather over 1300 participants, including global leaders and energy decision-makers to discuss progress and outline actions to accelerate the global renewable energy transition, aligned with the UAE Consensus, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the Paris Agreement.

Follow this page for live blog from all sessions on 11 January, the Pre-Assembly Day and check IRENA social media channels for updates on #IRENA15A.

IRENA Pre-Assembly stakeholder and ministerial meetings are taking place on the 11th January 2025. See the full schedule and live stream here.

SDG7 on Sustainable Energy: The Road Ahead

This event gathers leaders, stakeholders, the private sector and energy practitioners to discuss ways to accelerate progress on SDG7 and to shape a pathway to a collaborative and ambitious energy agenda for the future.

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This session began with opening remarks from Ms. Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General, IRENA, saying, “For the first time in this decade, there have been reverses in basic energy access,” highlighting the need for urgent investment and action to reach universal energy access goals. She added, “With just about 5 years left still 2030, efforts should strongly focus on long-term energy planning and policies which need be embedded in national strategies of countries,” emphasizing the need to keep the least developed countries and marginalized groups in mind to shape the energy landscape of the future.

In his keynote speech, H.E. Mr. Hans Olav Ibrekk, Special Envoy for Climate and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, and co-Facilitator of the SDG7 TAG who focused on the need for collaboration between countries and partner organizations. “We have a lot of work to do. We need to start working together efficiently and we need all hands-on deck to achieve universal energy access.” Mr. Riad Meddeb, Director, Sustainable Energy Hub, UNDP added, “To close the finance gap, and achieve the 2030 goals, we need to move to integrated strategies to achieve universal energy access and other developmental goals. Bridging the gap between commitments and actions is key to guide policy.”

High Level Dialogue on Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia (APRECA)

This high-level dialogue, moderated by Melinda Crane, brings together energy leaders from countries in Central Asia to discuss the urgent need to diversify the region’s energy mix to support economic growth.

The participants discuss how the Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia (APRECA), announced at COP29 can leverage collective strengths and resources, facilitating frameworks for a renewables-based energy transition across the region.

In his opening, Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “Central Asia is very critical in the fight against climate change with its abundant natural resources. The region can play a stronger and leading role in the global energy transition. I’m confident this new partnership can accelerate pipeline of renewable energy projects and drive green industrialisation.”

Representing Azerbaijan, where the APRECA partnership was announced at COP29, Ms. Rana Humbatova, the Deputy Director of Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency said: “As the country joined the commitment to triple renewable power capacity at COP28, Azerbaijan is now boosting the efforts to meet the target. Our main challenge is integrating renewable power into the grid and investments. We need to work together with partners through international platforms such as this one initiated by IRENA.”

2025 IRENA Legislators Forum
Legislative Pathways for the UAE Consensus: Tripling Renewables and Doubling Efficiency

The IRENA Legislators Forum brings together a growing network of parliamentarians with an interest in accelerating renewable energy uptake. Find out more about this annual event.

The 2025 Legislators Forum aims to engage legislators in discussions on how best to integrate renewable energy and energy efficiency targets into updated NDCs and explore pathways that closely align with the UAE Consensus on tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

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In his opening remarks, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera stressed the window to staying on the 1.5^°C pathway is narrowing and the next twelve months hold immense significance for global climate action, as countries prepare to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions in the early 2025. Recognising the critical role played by legislators in energy policy-making, he added, “Instruments like risk-mitigation funds and results-based financing can support vulnerable economies without increasing their debt burdens. In addition to financing, regional and cross-sectoral collaboration is imperative.”

Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is delivering his keynote speech encouraging everyone to come together, also as parliamentarians and drive energy transition.

Strongly spotlighting the power of engaging with global community to push #renewableenergy, Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Vice-President of @IPUparliament said, “We always debate if #climatechange a threat or not. But frankly, 2024 was the hottest year ever. So we need action, we don’t… pic.twitter.com/8QO1XWUVeT

— IRENA (@IRENA) January 11, 2025

Bärbel Höhn, Chair, Global Renewables Congress underlined that the investment remains the main challenge, and pointed out that “we cannot work separately in funding the energy transitions especially in the regions where people would greatly benefit, such as Africa. We must collaborate as countries and look at the local contexts and provide our financial support to meet their specific needs.” Meera Al Suwaidi, Member of Federal National Council, United Arab Emirates added: “Legislation needs to support private investment in the energy transition. Incentives are also very important to attract private investments.”