The 32nd Council meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has opened in Abu Dhabi, bringing together more than 300 government representatives and delegates to assess progress on the global energy transition and discuss priorities for the years ahead.
The meeting, taking place from October 14 to 16, serves as one of IRENA’s key biannual decision-making forums and will review the agency’s work, strategic direction and implementation priorities.
Delegates are meeting at a time when renewable energy deployment is continuing to reach record levels, technology costs are falling and electrification is expanding across major end-use sectors.
However, IRENA has warned that the overall pace of implementation remains insufficient, particularly as global electricity demand rises rapidly and progress on energy efficiency, power grids and other enabling infrastructure continues to fall short of what is needed.
A major focus of the Council meeting is IRENA’s new World Energy Transition Outlook 2026, which outlines the additional transformation required to return the global energy system to a pathway compatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C following the current overshoot in carbon emissions.
The outlook provides Member States with a framework to assess progress, identify implementation gaps and evaluate opportunities across energy systems, investment and wider socio-economic development.
One of the report’s key findings is the growing strategic importance of renewables-based electrification as countries seek to strengthen energy security, improve economic competitiveness and reduce emissions.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said the outlook provides governments with a practical roadmap for navigating the next phase of the transition.
“WETO 2026 sets an actionable agenda for the critical years 2026-2035,” La Camera said.
He added that changes in the global energy landscape are increasingly affecting entire economies rather than the energy sector alone, with governments placing greater focus on energy security and competitiveness.
“This Council convenes at a critical moment as Members define priorities for the next phase of the transition. Electrification with renewables will be at the core of a secure, resilient and sustainable energy system,” he said.
Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the 32nd IRENA Council, said the global energy transition had entered a decisive phase in which ambitions must increasingly be translated into practical implementation.
“The UAE looks forward to working with fellow Members to strengthen international cooperation, advance practical solutions, and ensure that IRENA remains responsive to the evolving priorities and needs of its Membership,” Al Hajeri said.
He added that greater collective action could accelerate the renewable energy transition while supporting energy security, economic resilience and sustainable development.
The Council will also review implementation of IRENA’s 2026-2027 Work Programme and Budget and continue discussions on the agency’s Medium-term Strategy for 2028-2032.
Members are also expected to advance the process of selecting IRENA’s next Director-General. The Council is expected to recommend candidates ahead of the final selection by the IRENA Assembly in 2027.
