IRENA Coalition for Action

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In January 2014, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and 35 players in renewable energy from around the world jointly established a Coalition for Action to promote the wider and faster uptake of renewable energy technologies.

The IRENA Coalition for Action forms a key international network to discuss industry trends, determine actions, share knowledge and exchange best practices with the vision to drive the global energy transition in line with the Sustainable Development Goal on energy. Its mission is to convene a global dialogue amongst non-governmental and governmental stakeholders to develop actions to increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.

Today, the Coalition brings together over 95 leading renewable energy players including private sector companies, industry associations, civil society, research institutes and intergovernmental organisations.

IRENA acts as the Secretariat of the Coalition.

Activities and Working Groups

The Coalition offers a number of opportunities to engage in the below working groups and IRENA’s strategic and programmatic activities.

Business and Investors Group

Engages in activities that address barriers to scaling up renewable energy investments in emerging markets. In early 2018, the Group launched a white paper on the topic, which was discussed in a Public-Private Dialogue at the 8th IRENA Assembly. The paper is the basis for country specific work and dialogues continuing in 2019.

Community Energy Group

Focuses on community energy investment. In early 2018, the Group launched a white paper on broadening the ownership of renewables, which was discussed in the Public-Private Dialogue at the 8th IRENA Assembly. This work is being further elaborated through case studies of best practices for enabling local renewable energy investment in developing countries.

Communications Group

Aligns communication messages among Coalition members, amplifying each other’s events and activities, and creating joint communication campaigns. Joint campaigns in 2018 were 1) #Renewables4Development, which focused on the socio-economic benefits of renewables, and 2) #Renewables4Climate, which targeted COP24.

Towards 100% RE Group

In early 2019, the group launched the white paper, which focused on policy recommendations and case studies of how regions, cities and islands can make the transition to 100% renewable energy. The white paper was discussed in the Public-Private Dialogue at the 9th IRENA Assembly.

Coalition Events and Campaigns

13 January 2020 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Coalition for Action Annual Strategy Meeting 2020
The fourth IRENA Coalition for Action Annual Strategy Meeting will take place in conjunction with the 10^th Session of the IRENA Assembly and the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. This will be a closed meeting for Coalition members only.
10 January 2020 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

IRENA Public-Private Dialogue 2020
At the 10^th Session of the IRENA Assembly, the third IRENA Public-Private Dialogue will consist of two dynamic sessions this year, convening policymakers, legislators, and members of the Coalition for Action. The first session will discuss opportunities to increase variable renewable energy penetration with a focus on power market setup and supporting policies. The second session will discuss barriers in African energy markets that need to be addressed in order for the private sector to work closer with governments and expand investments in renewable energy while maximizing socio-economic benefits and prosperity.

27 June 2019 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

IRENA Policy Day 2019

The IRENA Policy Day took place in Abu Dhabi in conjunction with the 17^th IRENA Council, and provided a forum for renewable energy policy dialogue where countries and stakeholders had the opportunity to share experiences and disseminate best practices in policy-making to ensure the efficient deployment of renewable energy, and the maximization of the benefits realized. Participants included IRENA Member States, Coalition for Action members, policy-makers and experts.
10 January 2019 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Coalition for Action Annual Strategy Meeting 2019

The third Coalition for Action Annual Strategy Meeting took place in conjunction with the IRENA Assembly and the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. This was a closed meeting for Coalition members only.
10 January 2019 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Public-Private Dialogue on Actions Needed to Accelerate the Energy Transformation

Based on a presentation of the IRENA Coalition for Action White Papers – Towards 100% Renewable Energy and Financing Community Energy - the dialogue highlighted key opportunities and challenges in expanding renewable energy markets worldwide, and the need for better alignment between policy-makers, legislators, and the private sector in order to maximise socio-economic and community benefits. Participants included government representatives, legislators, and Coalition for Action members.
02 – 14 December 2018 | Global Campaign

COP24 Katowice Joint Communication Campaign #Renewables4Climate

#Renewables4Climate is a global initiative to raise awareness about renewable energy as a key solution to climate change. The initiative was launched by the IRENA Coalition for Action for the second year in a row and coincided with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP24) in Katowice, where renewables were highlighted as one of the critical means of keeping the rise in global temperature below 2 or even 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
01 July – 01 October 2018 | Global Campaign

UN HLPF 2018 Joint Communication Campaign: #Renewables4Development

#Renewables4Development is a global initiative that highlights the central role of renewable energy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The campaign was launched by the IRENA Coalition for Action to coincide with the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2018 where the implementation of the 2030 sustainable goals including SDG 7 on energy was reviewed.
16 January 2018 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Coalition for Action Annual Strategy Meeting 2018

The second Annual Strategy Meeting of the Coalition took place in conjunction with the IRENA Assembly and the World Future Energy Summit. This was a closed meeting.
12 January 2018 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Public Private Dialogue on Unlocking Renewable Energy Investment Worldwide: Perspectives on Key Challenges and Opportunities
(at the Eighth session of the IRENA Assembly)

This dialogue aimed to build common understanding and encourage commentary actions between the public and private sector. The event highlighted key opportunities and challenges in growing renewable energy markets worldwide, and the need for better alignment between government, legislators, and industry.
06 – 17 November 2017 | Global Campaign

COP23 Joint Communication Campaign: #Renewables4Climate

#Renewables4Climate is a global initiative to raise awareness about renewable energy as a key solution to climate change. The initiative has been launched by the IRENA Coalition for Action to coincide with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP23), where renewables are highlighted as one of the critical means to keep the global temperature rise below 2 or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
07 – 08 July 2017 | Global Campaign

G20 Joint Communication Campaign: Socio-economic Benefits of Renewable Energy

To highlight the socio-economic benefits of renewables and its wider contribution to the SDGs, a social-media campaign was launched by the IRENA Coalition for Action to coincide with the G20 meeting in Hamburg. The campaign was translated into several languages and had a total reach of approximately 60 million.

More

Supported Events and Campaigns

28 – 29 May 2019 | Bonn, Germany

4th International Community Wind Symposium and Community Power Forum 2019
WWEA and LEE NRW organised this event, which brought together renewable energy and community power experts from around the world to discuss how new alliances can help community power play a key role in the renewable energy transition.
08 – 10 November 2018 | Bamako, Mali

2nd World Community Power Conference

WWEA and the Mali Folkecenter, together with the ISEP, hosted this event which brought together large numbers of national, regional and international community power stakeholders to provide a launch pad for the community power concept in Africa.

Publications

Towards 100% Renewable Energy: Utilities in Transition

The paper shows that energy utilities around the world are switching to 100% renewables. Building on a number of case studies including first-hand interviews with utilities, the paper outlines the achievements and implementation strategies of energy utilities around the world. The paper also includes an updated mapping of 100% renewable energy targets on national and subnational levels.

Towards 100% Renewable Energy: Status, Trends, and Lessons Learned

This white paper is a global mapping of 100% renewable energy targets, along with several case studies from national, regional, city and islands levels that illustrate different paths to a 100% renewable energy transformation.

Scaling up renewable energy investments in emerging markets: challenges, risks and solutions

This white paper outlines a discussion of the most significant challenges to the scale-up of renewable energy investment and development that the Coalition for Action Business and Investors Group members have encouraged while delivering projects worldwide. The paper also describes a selection of available tools and policies recommended by the Business and Investors Group to overcome these challenges.

Community Energy: broadening the ownership of renewables

This white paper identifies the benefits and implementation challenges of community energy, in addition to outlining actions and policies to promote community ownership of renewables.

IRENA Coalition for Action Members

Since its formation in 2014, the IRENA Coalition for Action has grown to consist of over 95 members, including private sector companies, industry associations, civil society, research institutes and intergovernmental organisations.

The Coalition is open to legal entities supporting the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, and meeting the requirements outlined in the Coalition for Action Structure Document.

To become a member of the Coalition for Action, please fill out the membership form and email it to coalition@irena.org.