The COP28 Presidency, in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), has introduced a comprehensive report titled “Tripling Renewable Power and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030: Crucial Steps Towards 1.5 °C.” The report was launched on the sidelines of the Pre-COP event in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of setting a bold agenda for global sustainability.
The report’s primary focus is to provide governments and the private sector with actionable policy recommendations, emphasizing the urgency of increasing worldwide renewable energy capacity to a minimum of 11,000 GW while simultaneously doubling annual energy efficiency improvements. These initiatives align with the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda objective of expediting a just and orderly transition to sustainable energy, thereby keeping the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.
In his statement within the report, COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber underscored the importance of significantly expanding renewable energy deployment and enhancing energy efficiency as vital levers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He urged collective action, both domestically and internationally, to turn these ambitions into reality.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera emphasized the urgency of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. He pointed out that addressing systemic barriers rooted in fossil fuel-era infrastructure, policies, and institutions is critical. The report draws from IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023 and calls for immediate and collective action to expedite the global energy transition and preserve the 1.5 °C target.
Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, echoed the sentiment that tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency commitments represent powerful measures in the fight against climate change. These initiatives are expected to yield cleaner electricity systems, enhanced access to affordable energy, and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities. He highlighted the importance of policymakers working closely with industry and civil society to implement the report’s recommended actions in areas such as infrastructure, policy, regulation, supply chains, skills, capacities, and international collaboration.
The report categorizes key enablers for achieving these ambitious goals into five sections, covering infrastructure and system operation, policy and regulation, supply chain, skills, capacities, scaling-up finance (both public and private), and enhancing international collaboration.
The collaboration between the COP28 Presidency, IRENA, and the GRA reflects the growing consensus on the necessity of achieving these targets. As part of their commitment to these global objectives, the Presidency and the European Commission have called upon countries to support the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, with several Champion countries already pledging their support to these critical targets.
