REN21

The #COP29 gavel has come down but the finance is missing. 1️⃣The "finance COP" in Baku failed to deliver on the real trillions needed in climate finance for the energy transition. 2️⃣Developed countries promised a completely insufficient USD 300 billion/year in climate finance by 2035. Voluntary contributions from developing countries will also be accepted in meeting this target. 3️⃣The negotiations failed to build on the UAE dialogue, bring home a decision on grids and storage, and strengthen the #COP28 renewables package with #finance. Read what this means for scaling renewables here 👇 #RenewablesNow #REbootTheWorld #FinanceCOP #Baku #Azerbaijan #BakuBreakthrough

👏 Congratulations to the REVolutionaries award recipient, Jitsai Santaputra! REN21 is proud to be able to support this initiative to highlight the inspiring stories around the world of energy and climate champions building a sustainable future, it was a pleasure to participate in the process of interviews over the past months and learn more about this, and more projects from young pioneers of renewable energy in developing countries.

🚢 ✈️ As seen in our latest Global Futures Report, transport is the fastest-growing energy-consuming sector, responsible for 20% of global CO2 emissions. Yet, only 4% of #transportenergy is #renewable, with #aviation, #shipping, and #freight still heavily reliant on #fossilfuels. In fact, 40% of global trade #supplychains are moving fossil fuels through #maritimetransport, from production to consumption. This underscores the urgent need for change—and renewables are the key to driving it. At REN21, we see the integration of renewable energy and #sustainabletransport as a game-changing solution to address #emissions, #airpollution, and #energysecurity. 🚲 A decarbonised transport sector powered by renewables can meet mobility needs seamlessly, efficiently, and equitably. From electric bikes for urban commuting to 100% renewable-powered rail systems and synthetic fuels for long-haul shipping and aviation, the solutions are here—but they need scaling. Here’s why renewables matter for sustainable transport: 🔸 Mitigating Emissions: Shifting transport modes to renewables can significantly reduce emissions and air pollution. Freight alone contributes to over half of transport emissions, a share expected to rise to 60% by 2050 without decisive action. 🔸 Enhancing Energy Security: By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and embracing renewable energy, we lower risks tied to fuel price volatility and supply disruptions. 🔸 Fostering Local Economies: Electrification, particularly in emerging markets, creates economic opportunities through local manufacturing and innovation—such as EV adoption, EVs accounted for 18% of car sales in 2023, with 35% year-on-year growth, which is booming worldwide with a staggering USD 634 billion invested globally. Furthermore, embracing the ASI framework can accelerate a successful energy transition. (While ASI can be used as a great framework for transport, it not only applies to transport but also for energy all around.) ➡️ Avoid: Reducing unnecessary travel and transport demand by designing cities and systems that bring essentials closer to home. 🔄 Shift: Transitioning to low-carbon modes of transport, such as public transit, cycling, and rail. ⚡ Improve: Increasing efficiency and electrification through renewable energy solutions and innovative technologies. This transition won’t happen overnight. We need cross-sectoral collaboration and policies that integrate #energy and #transport strategies. The stakes are high, but the rewards are worth it—a resilient, renewables-powered transport future that connects people and goods sustainably. Read more about critical questions, tension points and role of renewables in transport in our GFR here: https://lnkd.in/dPY-pVCS Let’s bridge transport and renewables to accelerate decarbonisation. The time to act is now. #WorldSustainableTransportDay #RenewableEnergy #ASIFramework #SustainableMobility #FossilFreeTransport

I’m deeply frustrated by the outcome of COP29. The stakes are higher than ever, yet the negotiations continue to fall short. COP29 was the "Finance COP," yet it delivered, essentially, pennies when trillions are needed. The USD 300 billion committed annually until 2035 is woefully inadequate. Developing nations need USD 1.3 trillion per year now—just 1% of global GDP—to power an equitable energy transition. Instead, we got watered-down commitments, no true stance, no clarity on funding and no accountability. This isn’t just about the climate; it’s about ensuring the resilience of our economies and societies. Renewables, combined with energy efficiency, are key to this resilience. Combined, they provide energy security, address energy poverty, create jobs and build the foundation for thriving, equitable economies. Sticking with fossil fuels—which saw USD 3.9 trillion in profits last year—is a choice that locks us into a failing system from both climate and economic perspectives. Some good news! There are glimpses of progress: The Grids and Storage Pledge offers a blueprint for critical renewable infrastructure. The Green Corridors Initiative shows the power of regional collaboration to unlock economic growth. Overall, we’ve seen encouraging momentum. Renewable energy players are vibrant and engaged, and the growing understanding of the opportunities renewables offer is clear. Moreover, developing countries are stepping up with clear strategies to embrace this transition. But we need action, not ideas. Finance must scale from billions to trillions, with public, private and concessional funding driving the shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewables and energy efficiency. The road to COP30 must focus on economies built on renewables—resilient, inclusive, and future-proof. The time to act is now. https://lnkd.in/eqXBrmMG #RenewablesNow #ClimateFinance #RebootTheWorld

#COP29 ended with mixed progress. But it’s important to also highlight the good. This COP was a wake-up call for all organisations working for a better world. REN21 is committed to continue pushing for solutions that are fair, inclusive, and driven by collaboration. 🤝 A big shoutout to all of those joining us in enabling spaces for broader representation and multistakeholder action in the global debate.  — Thank you to our partners for many great joint dialogues and to the organisations that created room for REN21 across insightful discussions. - Asociación Sustentar, COP29 Azerbaijan, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, GEIDCO(Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization), Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, OSCE, Renewables Grid Initiative , Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), Stanley Center for Peace and Security, Solutions for Our Climate (기후솔루션), Renewables Grid Initiative, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and UN Climate Change among so many others we had the pleasure of connecting with throughout our time in #Baku. Some lessons from our side: 1️⃣ We Need to Act Locally and Globally. Ambitious pledges are important, but they must translate into real, localised actions that reflect the specific needs of people and communities. 2️⃣ Data, Trust, and Inclusion are Non-Negotiable. We can’t speed up the transition without reliable open data, and without building citizens’ trust. 3️⃣ It’s About More Than Energy. Renewables are enablers of development, creating opportunities for industrialisation, peace, jobs, resilient cities and stronger communities. We believe now more than ever in the power of many. Let’s keep building a renewables-based world with people and planet at the centre. Read our full participation breakdown below! 👇   #COP29 #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #EquityInAction #CollaborationForChange #RenewablesNow

👉 Incoming - new job opportunity to join the REN21 team in Paris this 2025. Come #workwithus and drive the energy transition forward through renewables. 🧐 We are looking for a full-time (12 month duration) Strategic Intelligence & Renewable Energy Lead. 💼 What you'll do? Working to connect renewable energy voices by producing #knowledge tailored to the region and creating a supportive multi-stakeholder environment. The activities are centred around developing REN21’s #community, providing #strategicintelligence, strengthening #knowledgeanddata products, and supporting #communication activities. 🔸 Please look at the full role description and apply through our website here: https://lnkd.in/escmQGf 🤗 Know of anyone that would a good match? Share this post with them and your network for reach. Deadline for submissions: Until position is filled. #jobposting #jobopportunity #greenjobs #climatejobs #renewablesjob #hiring #stratintell

👉 Incoming - new job opportunity to join the REN21 team in Paris this 2025. Come #workwithus and drive the energy transition forward through renewables. 🧐 We are looking for a full-time (12 month duration) Strategic Intelligence & Renewable Energy Lead. 💼 What you'll do? Working to connect renewable energy voices by producing #knowledge tailored to the region and creating a supportive multi-stakeholder environment. The activities are centred around developing REN21’s #community, providing #strategicintelligence, strengthening #knowledgeanddata products, and supporting #communication activities. 🔸 Please look at the full role description and apply through our website here: https://lnkd.in/escmQGf 🤗 Know of anyone that would a good match? Share this post with them and your network for reach. Deadline for submissions: Until position is filled. #jobposting #jobopportunity #greenjobs #climatejobs #renewablesjob #hiring #stratintell

Joined by a compelling panel discussion hosted by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on "Achieving 100% Renewable Energy by 2030". Rana Adib, alongside Antonella Battaglini, Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes, and Stephan Singer, the conversation centered on practical strategies, #equity, and the global collaboration needed to make this vision a reality. 🔑 Takeaways from the session: 🔸 Integrated Approaches Over Isolated Pledges: Antonella Battaglini emphasized that while pledges on #grids and storage are promising, they don’t reflect local realities. Success requires planning tailored to specific needs, with demand-side optimisation as a key driver.  🔸 Renewables: More Than Climate Action: Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes highlighted renewables as a decentralised, community-driven solution that empowers people. Examples like balcony solar in Germany and community wind turbines in Denmark show how citizen participation drives change. 🔸 Equity and Global Investment Are Non-Negotiable: Our Executive Director, Rana Adib underscored the need for renewables to deliver economic and social benefits for all. With only 17% of renewable energy investments reaching Africa, Asia (excluding China), and Latin America—where two-thirds of the global population lives—this imbalance must be addressed. 🔸 A Just Transition Requires Empowerment: Dr. Stephan Singer stressed that achieving 100% renewables hinges on equitable investment in the Global South. Success stories like microcredit for solar adoption in Bangladesh and solar lantern initiatives in Nigeria showcase the potential of local solutions to overcome energy poverty. 🔅 The renewable energy transition is not just about decarbonising—it’s about creating a world where energy enables sustainable development, local value creation, and equitable opportunities. To achieve 100% renewables by 2030, we must act decisively, collaborate globally, and put equity at the center of every solution. #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #COP29 #SustainableDevelopment #GlobalEquity #ClimateAction #RenewablesNow 

The latest NCQG finance draft text at #COP29 is completely insufficient. It does not deliver on the real finance needs to tackle the climate crisis and enable the transition to renewables. Let’s break through the jargon: “8. In this context, decides to set a goal in extension of the goal referred to in paragraph 53 of decision 1/CP.21, with developed country Parties taking the lead, to USD 250 billion per year by 2035 for developing country Parties for climate action” This is not the ground-breaking new target we expected and need. The finance needs for climate and renewables action are in the trillions. Moving from the old USD 100 billion to USD 250 billion simply is not enough. And even less so if we only achieve this by 2035. Developing countries are asking for 1.3 trillion USD in climate finance, now. That’s just about 1% of global GDP. With the climate crisis looming over our heads, and the potential of renewables to not only drive mitigation but also adaptation, we need #Baku to deliver now! “7. Calls on all actors to work together to enable the scaling up of financing to developing country Parties for climate action from all public and private sources to at least USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2035” At first glance, this might seem like good news, but the devil is in the details. This text is a polite request at most, and pushes the responsibility of providing finance away from developed countries. What we need is a clear, ambitious, and binding commitment, not a simple call to action. Overall, the text offers too little too late, lacking explicit provisions and mobilisation goals. Who pays the money? What counts as climate finance? Not enough clarity is provided. Some claim that the trillions needed cannot be found in the public budgets of industrialised countries. But the money does exist—if we choose to look for it. From Brazil’s #G20 presidency to Barbados’ Mia Mottley, calls for innovative financing via taxation are growing. Proposals include levies on fossil fuels, aviation, maritime sectors, and taxing the super-rich. It is simply a question of diversifying the coffers. The clock is ticking!

🚇 At the intergrated panel discussion: "Ambition, Commitment, and Action for the #EnergyTransition in the Transport Sector”, the message was clear: we must unite ambition, commitment, and action to build a #renewablefuture for transport—one that secures energy, boosts economies, and delivers on climate goals.  🔸 Transport and Energy Are Inseparable: #Transportdecarbonisation is essential for #energydecarbonisation. Without renewable-powered transport, achieving climate goals is impossible. 40 % of global trade #supplychains are moving #fossilfuel through #maritimetransport from point of production to point of consumption.  🔸 Building Trust in Renewables: Skepticism about renewables meeting transport demands 24/7 persists. Transparent narratives and sectoral collaboration are needed to combat misinformation and prove this transition is both feasible and essential.  🔸 The Data Challenge: Access to open, integrated, and contextualised data is vital for crafting effective, bankable policies. Current gaps in #dataownership hinder the development of knowledge-driven strategies.  🔸 Spotlight on Scalable Solutions: #Hydrogen, ammonia, #railsystems, and fleet electrification present clear opportunities to scale up renewable-powered transport. But we must avoid replicating centralised fossil fuel systems in a decentralised renewable framework.  🔸 Collaborative Economies: Aligning policies, bridging #supplyanddemand, and fostering interconnected economies—via manufacturing, supply chains, and industrialisation—can create resilient systems that benefit both transport and energy sectors. Let’s not miss this opportunity to drive integrated progress! Tim Dallmann, Maruxa Cardama, Norela Constantinescu, Rana Adib, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport, The International Council on Clean Transportation   #EnergyTransition #Renewables #SustainableTransport #COP29 #ClimateAction #RenewablesNow