INTERVIEW // ENERGY, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY: ENERGY
Reinforcing the renewables revolution
Why is reinforcing the renewables revolution so important in 2025? Our recent Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025 report shows that 2024 set new records for renewable installed capacity and the share of added renewable capacity has risen higher and higher. More than 90% of the capacity installed for power has been renewables. Why do we need even more? First, even with a record 585 gigawatts of installed capacity in 2024, we fell short of the 11.2 terawatt total renewable capacity needed to be in place by 2030. We need to more than double the amount of new renewable power capacity added each year to stay aligned with the 1.5°C climate target. Second, most of the time, the most convenient solution is renewables. To produce power, the cheapest and most economical way is investing in renewables. So that is the business case. Third, recent conflicts show very clearly that centralised fossil fuel systems are more vulnerable than decentralised ones. With more actors and more geographically diverse sources of power, from a geopolitical perspective, renewables increase resilience and resistance to shocks.
To stay on track with essential climate targets, momentum on renewable capacity must accelerate. This means overcoming challenges, including shifting political will and infrastructure gaps, as well as regulatory hurdles
Francesco La Camera, director general, IRENA
These are three reasons why renewables will break another record in 2025.
How is IRENA working under your leadership to do more, beyond your report? We try to take a 360° approach: we start
with the assessment, from that we develop plans, from the plans we facilitate projects, from the projects we move to implementation – and then we start again. This allows us to take into account regional circumstances. We assist the private
and public sectors to develop projects up to the point of bankability, and then we work with our
98 // G7 CANADA: THE KANANASKIS SUMMIT 2025
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator