IRENA Youth engagement

Renewable energy has taken centre stage in global efforts to secure a sustainable, climate-safe future, and partnering with youth to amplify the voice of renewables globally is an essential part of this endeavour. In contributing to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting countries to meet their climate targets under the Paris Agreement, IRENA recognises youth as a vital actor in the energy transformation.

Young people are a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic growth, innovation and environmental protection. In recent years, youth have been increasingly involved in the sustainable development discourse, providing relevant contributions to shape the agenda of tomorrow.

Young people are particularly threatened by climate change, and, at the same time, are significant actors in raising awareness and providing ambitious and innovative solutions worldwide. They have thus become increasingly active in bringing urgency to the international public climate debate. Moreover, global attempts to achieve net zero emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050 require joint effort. A holistic approach to this endeavour includes empowering young leaders in the energy transition.

As such, IRENA continuously encourages youth to identify the role that they can play in shaping the energy transition within their communities, by proposing solutions that can foster education, improve healthcare services, mitigate the effects of climate change and build a fair, just and inclusive society.

At the same time that renewables have gained wide recognition as the most cost-effective tool to secure a climate-safe future and support countries’ sustainable development, IRENA has been engaging youth through a number of capacity-building initiatives on topics including governance, education and innovation.

The IRENA Youth Council is a dynamic platform that empowers young leaders from across the globe to actively contribute to the renewable energy transition. Comprising diverse youth representatives, the Council promotes innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration through annual global and regional youth forums, and partnerships. Supported by IRENA, the Council plays a key role in co-leading the IRENA Youth Forum, shaping capacity-building initiatives, and advocating for youth inclusion in global energy policy. Members serve two-year terms and engage in strategic projects to amplify the voice and impact of youth in driving a sustainable, renewable-powered future.

Read more about the IRENA Youth Council current members.

Launched in 2023, the IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator Programme supports young innovators and entrepreneurs working on advancing clean energy technologies in their respective economies. Through this initiative, IRENA provides entrepreneurs with capacity building, promotion, business linkages and investment readiness to support their innovative ideas. IRENA organises an annual cycle of the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator to accelerate 15-20 entrepreneurial teams from around the world to help scale their startup businesses.

Read more about NewGen Startups for 2024 and NewGen Startups for 2023.

Young people are proving to be a force for positive climate action when they are engaged and empowered effectively. Through the IRENA Youth Talk platform, IRENA has sought to harness this by offering them a platform to be heard, share ideas and learn from experts in various related fields. Launched in June 2020, it is a series of webinars aimed at strengthening the Agency’s engagement with young people, amplifying their voices and actions in support of renewables, achieving climate stability and advancing the sustainable development agenda.

Read more about the IRENA Youth Talk.

The IRENA Student Leaders Programme is a virtual traineeship programme launched in response to young peoples’ growing interest in renewables.

The programme aims to build the capacity of future energy professionals and leaders by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to address urgent energy challenges.

The three-month virtual training programme is delivered through a combination of lectures from IRENA staff, interactive discussions and group tasks. Key topics include:

• Renewable energy policy
• Renewable energy technologies
• Energy access and decentralised energy
• Energy statistics and targets
• Innovation and finance
• Socio-economic benefits of renewable energy
• Renewable energy education and youth engagement
• Private sector and industry action
• Just energy transition.

It is open to undergraduate and postgraduate university students with a passion to build a career in the renewable energy field.

Applications for the spring 2022 cohort are now closed. Applications for future cohorts will be announced here once they open.

Gain Real Office Work Training Here at IRENA.

GROWTH@IRENA is a summer training programme that provides undergraduate students with opportunities to learn and gain practical experience at IRENA as part of the team. The programme is for university students looking to secure valuable international work experience and to advance the renewable energy agenda on a global platform.

GROWTH@IRENA is open to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme in engineering, economics, development, international affairs, finance, business administration, communications or a related field. Applicants to the programme must be passionate about renewable energy.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic this programme could not be conducted in 2020 and 2021.

2025 GROWTH@IRENA

Advance your renewable energy career with GROWTH@IRENA. The five-week training programme, scheduled from January 30th to February 27th, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, offers students and young professionals an opportunity to acquire essential skills and knowledge in renewable energy policies, technologies, and real-world applications.

Read more about 2025 GROWTH@IRENA.

2019 GROWTH@IRENA

Around the world millions of young people seek meaningful work experience, but struggle to find employers willing to take a chance on them. To help address this situation for those looking for a future career in renewable energy and sustainability, IRENA invites students to join the Agency for its annual summer trainee programme.
Read more about the 2019 GROWTH@IRENA.

2018 GROWTH@IRENA

Everyone starts somewhere. Before he built his businesses, Elon Musk interned at Microsoft and the Bank of Nova Scotia. He knew, like many others, that a summer internship is a great way to learn on-the-job skills, grow a professional network and learn more about what kind of career you want. Students who undertake work experience make better-informed career choices and have a chance to refine their interpersonal and professional skills.

Read more about the outcome of the 2018 GROWTH@IRENA.

2017 GROWTH@IRENA

For all of you motivated and inspired university students looking to gain valuable international work experience, IRENA provides the chance to meet, interact and work with experts and professionals at the IRENA who strive to advance the renewable energy agenda on a global platform.

The IRENA Student Trainee Programme aims to engage students based in the United Arab Emirates as trainees to assist the IRENA Secretariat during Council Meetings and Assembly Sessions, providing them with a unique opportunity for insight into the organisation and a range of the significant issues faced by our world today.