Legislators Urged To Implement Renewables; Turn the Tide on Climate Change

Today, 60 legislators from 20 national parliaments gathered together to kick start legislative action on climate change. Keynote speakers included IRENA Director-General Adnan Amin, Unilever CEO Paul Polman, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, and the Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal.

With the world watching another typhoon batter the Philippines, and given frustrations regarding the slow pace of the ongoing climate negotiations, the impetus falls on legislators to take action now on climate change.

IRENA analysis shows that it's possible to double the share of renewable energy in the world energy mix, from 18 to 36%, by 2030. But this won’t happen on its own. IRENA's Director-General urged legislators to do their part, and offered IRENA's unique blend of research and technical advise to support them in doing so.

“To drive the rapid uptake of renewables, legislators have to take an urgent and active approach, adopting new policy frameworks at the national and regional levels. There is no fixed formula to make this happen.

Without the support of legislators, we will be unable to turn the tide. I have come to believe this is the biggest moment in all of our political careers. History books will be written about what we do over the next 12 months. I encourage you to come together and embrace the extraordinary opportunities the renewable revolution has to offer.”

Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General at GLOBE legislator event