The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has issued a call for increased global ambition in the deployment of renewable energy sources, stressing the need for an average addition of 1000GW annually by 2030. In its recently released report, the first volume of the World Energy Transitions Outlook (WETO) 2023, IRENA emphasizes the necessity of a significant rise in the direct utilization of renewables in various end-use sectors.
To achieve these ambitious goals, the report highlights the critical role of physical infrastructure, policy, and regulations, along with the development of institutional and workforce capabilities. The WETO 2023 report positions electrification and efficiency as key drivers of the transition, with renewable energy, clean hydrogen, and sustainable biomass playing enabling roles. It comprehensively tracks the implementation of these measures across all sectors of energy.
Although there has been some progress in the power sector, evidenced by a record-breaking 300GW increase in global renewable capacity in 2022, IRENA warns that the existing gap between achievements and requirements continues to widen.
Francesco La Camera, the Director-General of IRENA, highlighted the urgent need for action, stating, “We face the harsh reality that we are not on track to deliver on the Paris Agreement. Our only option is to follow the most promising, science-based pathway – one that puts renewable energy at the center of the solution while leading countries towards energy security, reduced costs, and forward-looking industrial development.”
La Camera further emphasized the importance of the energy transition as a strategic tool for creating a more equitable and inclusive world. He called for COP28 (the 28th Conference of the Parties) and the Global Stocktake to not only acknowledge the deviation from the 1.5°C pathway outlined in the Paris Agreement but also provide a strategic blueprint to steer the world back on track.
With IRENA's plea for heightened ambition and the recognition of the pressing need to address the climate crisis, the global community must unite in embracing renewable energy as the linchpin of our sustainable future. The upcoming international climate conferences hold significant importance in charting the course towards a cleaner and more resilient world.
