BRASÍLIA/BELÉM: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has reaffirmed its global leadership role in driving the clean energy transition as it actively participates in COP30 in Brazil. As the custodian agency responsible for monitoring progress on global energy goals outlined in the UAE Consensus, IRENA—together with the COP30 Brazilian Presidency and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA)—released the second edition of its flagship report, Delivering on the UAE Consensus: Tracking Progress Toward Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030.
Unveiled during a high-level pre-COP30 event in Brasília, the report reveals that the world added an unprecedented 582 GW of renewable capacity in the past year. However, it warns that this pace remains insufficient to meet the COP28 target of tripling global renewables to 11.2 terawatts (TW) by 2030. To achieve this goal, renewable capacity additions must grow by 16.6% annually from 2025 to 2030, requiring bold policy actions, scaled-up financing, and accelerated deployment across all regions.
In a parallel development, IRENA also launched the Regional Energy Transition Outlook for South America during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The report highlights that by accelerating the clean energy transition, South America could boost GDP growth by 1.1% annually from 2023 to 2050, while creating over 12 million new energy sector jobs. The findings emphasize the region’s vast renewable potential, particularly in solar, wind, hydropower, and green hydrogen.
IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera underscored the importance of immediate and coordinated global action to stay aligned with the UAE Consensus goals. He reiterated IRENA’s commitment to supporting countries in shaping robust, inclusive, and sustainable energy pathways, emphasizing collaboration between governments, industry, and communities.
At COP30, IRENA is co-hosting a series of insightful events at the Global Renewables Hub—a shared platform with the Global Renewables Alliance in the Blue Zone. The sessions will cover critical topics to advance the global energy transition, including:
- Structural transformations in finance, industry, and policy (12 Nov)
- Skilling for the energy transition (13 Nov)
- Decentralised renewables (13 & 18 Nov)
- Power sector transformation (14 Nov)
- Decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors (15 Nov)
- Gender and communities in the transition (15 Nov)
- Youth engagement and empowerment (17 & 19 Nov)
Through its continued leadership and strategic collaborations, IRENA remains at the forefront of global efforts to accelerate the energy transition, ensuring the world remains on track to achieve a sustainable, inclusive, and net-zero future.
