IRENA at COP24
IRENA was present at the UN Climate Change Conference that took place in Katowice, Poland from 3 to 14 December 2018.
Together with a wide range of partners, IRENA ensured throughout a series of high-level events, panel discussions and initiatives, that renewable energy was at the highest level on the global agenda of COP24.
Key activities included the facilitation of the Energy Day within the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (GCA) on 8 December and the organisation of a half-day Renewable Day on 11 December embedded into the ‘World Climate Summit’. Furthermore, IRENA hosted an official side event on 12 December together with the Climate Action Network International, and organised and participated in a number of topical side events.
In cooperation with the Coalition for Action, IRENA reactivated a dedicated Event Tracker of all renewables-related events happening at COP24 and ran the Coalition’s Twitter campaign #Renewables4Climate to raise awareness about renewable energy as a key solution to climate change.
Download the PDF version of the IRENA schedule.
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Socio-economic Benefits of the Energy Transition
4 Dec 2018 10:00 – 11:00 • COP, Global Climate Action Hub
While the global energy transition comes with challenges, it also advances multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. At the UNFCCC Action Hub, IRENA organised a discussion about socio-economic opportunities of the energy transition, including benefits for employment, education and skills, economic growth, energy access, and reduced air pollution and health impacts. The event provided an opportunity for speakers to engage with the audience on these benefits and discussed how to embark on a low-carbon pathway.
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Global Climate Action Energy Day
8 Dec 2018 10:00 – 13:00 • COP, Room Pomorze
A fast-moving global energy transformation is underway, driven by technological innovation, dramatic cost declines, positive socio-economic benefits and the imperative to decarbonise our economies. In cooperation with the ICC, IEA, SEforALL, the Climate Group and WBCSD, IRENA steered the organisation of this year’s Energy Day which took stock of the global energy transition and reflected on priorities for action. As part of the UNFCCC Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (GCA) and in the spirit of Talanoa to leave no one behind, the event brought together policy makers, corporations, innovators and other energy stakeholders for a frank exchange on how to accelerate progress in the sector to meet development and climate objectives under SDG7 and Paris Agreement. The Energy Day featured diverse geographical, economic and social context to provide insight into the long-term planning and innovation in the energy transformation.
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Renewable Energy Day’ at the World Climate Summit
11 Dec 2018 09:00 – 10:00 Opening, 10:00 – 11:00, Room Opal, 11:00 – 12:00, 14:00 – 15:00, Room Rubin • Vienna House Easy Angelo hotel
Embedded in the ‘World Climate Summit (WCS)’, IRENA co-hosted a half-day event dedicated to the socio-economic benefits of the energy transformation and innovation. The Renewable Energy Day brought to centre stage socioeconomic benefits of renewables for communities and regions thereby contributing to a fair and just distribution of welfare cost and benefits. It showcased how innovation is creating opportunities for an accelerated transition towards a renewable-powered, low-carbon global energy system that can deliver on the Paris Agreement climate goals. WCS and Energy Day assembled a wide range of participants including policy-makers, investors, technology providers, researchers and business representatives. Together with the World Bank, UNDP and many others, IRENA also took part in the WCS ‘Investment COP’ on 12 December.
Livestream:
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Bringing socio-economic benefits through enhanced deployment of renewable energy
12 Dec 2018 11:30 – 13:00 • COP, Room Warmia
IRENA, in partnership with the Climate Action Network International (CAN-I) and in collaboration with the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), organised an official side event at COP24 that aimed to support climate vulnerable countries in transforming their energy systems toward a 100% renewables objective. Under the theme ‘Stepping up NDCs and bringing socio-economic benefits through enhanced deployment of renewable energy’, the event facilitated an exchange of information on how countries highly vulnerable to climate change can be supported in meeting renewables and energy efficiency objectives in NDCs. By sharing experiences and best practice on dedicated activities to enhance renewable energy deployment, multiple socio-economic benefits in climate-vulnerable countries were showcased and demonstrated. While the side event was open to a wide audience, it targeted representatives from countries vulnerable to climate impacts. Participants from climate vulnerable countries discussed how they can achieve energy decarbonisation through enhanced deployment of renewables and what socio-economic benefits the deployment can bring to these countries. Speakers were Ministers and senior Government officials from climate vulnerable countries such as the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Ethiopia.
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Driving the Energy Transition through Innovation
13 Dec 2018 14:00 – 15:00 • COP, Global Climate Action Hub
Aligned with the priorities of the Polish Presidency for COP24, IRENA organised a discussion about innovation of the energy transition with a strong focus on electric mobility. The electrification of the transport sector presents an opportunity for the broader introduction of renewables into the transport sector, becoming an increasingly competitive option for clean transport. This event provided an opportunity for the speakers to engage with the audience on the growth potential of electric vehicles (EV), the benefits of EV’s and the challenges to overcome.