IRENA Youth Forum

IRENA strategically engages youth through various initiatives that follow the vision of empowering young leaders in the energy transition. Since 2020 it has been hosting its annual Youth Forum, a platform for innovative dialogue among young people and global pioneers accelerating the role of youth in the energy transition.

2025 IRENA Youth Forum

The 2025 IRENA Youth Forum, held from January 9 to 16 in Abu Dhabi, marked its sixth edition, empowering youth to contribute and shape global energy transition discussions at the 15th IRENA Assembly. Under the theme “Youth for Accelerating the Renewable Energy Transition: Innovation, Action, and Impact”, the forum brought together 150 young delegates from around the world, supported by the IRENA Youth Council.

It aimed to strengthen youth networks and connect them with global thought leaders, government representatives, and IRENA experts. The dynamic agenda included a high-level opening ceremony at Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi and a high-level event at the 15th IRENA Assembly. Additionally, various activities were held during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

Key discussions at the forum focused on strengthening youth voices to ensure their views are reflected in global renewable energy strategies. Improving youth capacity was another major objective, with training and capacity-building sessions aligned with SDG 7 and the Paris Agreement. The forum also explored innovative financing mechanisms for renewable energy projects and aimed to boost networks by building networks between young professionals and industry leaders.

Read more about the outcome of the 2025 IRENA Youth Forum.

2024 IRENA Youth Forum

Held alongside the 14^th IRENA Assembly, the 2024 IRENA Youth Forum brought together young leaders from around the world to drive action towards a just and inclusive energy transition. Held under the theme “Youth at the Core of a Just Energy Transition: Skills, Empowerment and Innovation”, the Forum reinforced the critical role of youth in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, including the target to triple renewable power capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030, adopted by the UAE Consensus at COP28.

Young people make up half of the global population, making them key stakeholders in the energy transition. Recognising this, IRENA continues to strengthen youth engagement through initiatives that amplify their voices, foster innovation, and build capacity. The 2024 IRENA Youth Forum provided a platform for intergenerational dialogue between young leaders, high-level officials, and stakeholders to accelerate youth-led solutions in renewable energy.

In its fifth edition, the 2024 IRENA Youth Forum expanded its scope with a high-level opening on 14 April, followed by two days of immersive sessions at the Arab Youth Center in Abu Dhabi, and concluded with a high-level closing at the IRENA Assembly venue on 16 April. The Forum focused on equipping young leaders with tools to drive transformative change and advance a just energy transition. Discussions addressed global skills gaps in renewable energy, strengthened education and training programs, and explored innovative approaches to hands-on learning and career development.

Read more about the outcome of the 2024 IRENA Youth Forum.

2023 IRENA Youth Forum

The 2023 IRENA Youth Forum marked its fourth edition, taking place on January 13, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, alongside the 13th IRENA Assembly. The Forum brought together 140 young people from 50 countries under the theme “Empowering Youth to Lead an Equitable Energy Transition for a Sustainable Future”.

Participants engaged in interactive sessions, including open dialogues and thematic workshops, contributing a youth perspective to the global energy discourse. Youth representatives presented key recommendations to leaders, such as unlocking finance to scale up renewable energy deployment and empowering youth in energy policy at national and international levels. They also called for a 100 percent renewables agenda at COP28 later that year.

The Forum continued its engagement during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), where young people enagaged in dialogues with IRENA experts and visited the Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Power Plant. IRENA Youth Delegates contributed as panelists in discussions on green jobs and youth, co-organised by IRENA and Youth 4 Sustainability. They also took part in the session “Gender, STEM and Energy”, discussing barriers in STEM careers and education.

Read more about the outcome of the 2023 IRENA Youth Forum.

2022 IRENA Youth Forum

The 2022 IRENA Youth Forum was guided by the theme Youth-led solutions to accelerate the energy transition and achieve climate objectives. The forum highlighted the role of young people in identifying and developing solutions that can promote and accelerate renewables-based energy transitions to achieve climate targets and other sustainable development goals. It also connected young people with global thought leaders, government representatives and IRENA experts, enabling them to identify the essential areas that require youth’s support and contribution for the advancement of a global energy transition.

Young leaders from around the world issued a clear call for action at the 2022 IRENA Youth Forum. On the sidelines of the 12^th session of the IRENA Assembly in January, over 400 young energy leaders gathered virtually and called on organisations, governments, the private sector, academia and civil society to take urgent action to ensure that the energy transition is led by young people.

Youth representatives who were engaged in the discussion developed a document they presented to the IRENA Assembly, sharing feedback and inputs and highlighting actionable steps for youth to advance the energy transition through innovative solutions.

Read more about the outcome of the 2022 IRENA Youth Forum.

2021 IRENA Youth Forum

The second edition of the IRENA Youth Forum, entitled The New Generation of Decision Makers, took place on 14 January 2021 on the margins of the 11^th session of the IRENA Assembly. In response to travel restrictions prompted by the pandemic, the Youth Forum was held virtually — allowing youth from all over world to engage with discussions on the challenges and opportunities of this year’s theme: Promoting an Inclusive and Just Energy Transition.

Through a series of interactive sessions, the forum provided an opportunity for participants to engage in discussions on promoting an inclusive and just global energy transition. It also served to strengthen the existing network of young energy leaders with the latest insights from the renewable sector. Young people created a connection with global thought leaders, government representatives and IRENA experts to identify the space for youth to contribute to the deployment of renewable energy and promote a fair and equal energy transition.

Read more about the outcome of the 2021 IRENA Youth Forum.

2020 IRENA Youth Forum

IRENA’s inaugural Youth Forum was held on 10 January 2020 on the margins of the Agency’s 10^th Assembly. Structured under the theme Renewables beyond 2030: The Key Role of Youth in the Global Energy Transformation, the Agency’s first major event for and by youth recognised the vital role that young people play in achieving climate stability, advancing the sustainable development agenda and transforming the use of energy.

A series of interactive sessions generated the exchange of ideas among youth delegates, and between youth, government representatives and other thought leaders in the energy transition. Participants were able to make valued contributions to the global energy discourse, while identifying ways for youth to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the renewable energy sector, allowing them to amplify their voices and actions in support of renewables.

The IRENA Youth Forum also showcased how increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix can be an effective instrument to address socio-economic challenges, support the development of innovative solutions and accelerate global efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Read more about the outcome of the 2020 IRENA Youth Forum.