The sixteenth session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and related meetings are taking place from 10 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Assembly session will focus on the theme of “Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity.” The Assembly session will gather global leaders and energy decision-makers to discuss strategies and underline necessary actions for the acceleration of renewable energy across countries, regions, and the world, driving economic inclusion, equity, and human wellbeing.
H.E. Joel Santos Echeverría, Minister of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic and incoming President of the 16th Assembly, called for the Assembly to contribute decisively to a just, inclusive and results-oriented energy transition. He stressed that for developing countries and Small Island Developing States, this transition is inseparable from climate resilience, energy security, economic stability and the fundamental right to a sustainable future. Reflecting on the theme Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity, he reaffirmed commitments to tripling renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, concluding that shared prosperity can only be achieved through solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility.
H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, highlighted that despite growing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and climate pressures, the renewable sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience. She underlined that momentum has strengthened rather than slowed, with projects advancing and communities adopting clean technologies at an accelerated pace. While external challenges intensify, she noted, real progress on the ground continues to grow, reinforcing the need for sustained ambition and collaboration.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera opened the Assembly by welcoming a record 1,524 participants from 139 countries. He emphasized that 92% of newly installed global power capacity last year was renewable, declaring the dominance of renewables in the global energy landscape irreversible. Renewable energy, he stated, is not only a climate solution but also a competitiveness, development and energy security solution. The true measure of success, he concluded, will be found not in megawatts installed, but in lives empowered.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed that the clean energy transition is unstoppable and irreversible. He highlighted record growth in solar and wind and noted that global clean energy investment reached USD 2.2 trillion in 2025, double that of fossil fuels. He cautioned, however, that infrastructure development is lagging behind technological progress, urging governments to build clean, secure systems aligned with a 1.5°C pathway.
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock echoed this momentum, urging renewed commitment to financing, partnerships, financial reform and workforce development. She noted the growth of global renewable capacity from 153 GW in 2015 to over 4,400 GW last year, describing renewables as a positive tipping point and affirming: there is no way back.
