The European Union (EU) highlighted its commitment to renewable energy leadership and accelerating the global energy transition during the 15th General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), held from 12 to 13 January alongside the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The EU delegation, led by Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission and H.E. Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE, and, engaged in a series of high-level discussions and events that highlighted the EU’s pivotal role in driving global energy diplomacy and innovation.

EU Delegation to the UAE

Ambassador Berger had a dialogue with IRENA Youth Delegates, focusing on empowering young leaders to shape a sustainable energy future. Meanwhile, DG Juul-Jørgensen met with key stakeholders, including UAE officials, international organisations, and business leaders, to strengthen partnerships and explore opportunities for collaboration in renewable energy development. Notable meetings included discussions with H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainable Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, as well as engagements with UAE energy officials and representatives from Masdar.

IRENA

DG Juul-Jørgensen’s contributions extended to key panels and ministerial roundtables addressing critical themes such as rethinking energy geopolitics, achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050, and scaling up finance for the energy transition in emerging markets. She also participated in discussions on Africa’s energy transition and green industrialisation agenda, alongside sessions on offshore wind growth and innovative sustainable finance. These discussions reinforced the EU’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and its commitment to mobilising investment for a global green transition.

In a significant moment for the EU, Slovenia was elected as the Presidency of the 15th IRENA General Assembly, underscoring its growing influence in energy diplomacy and as a global advocate for clean energy solutions.

Speaking about the EU’s active involvement, Ambassador Berger emphasised the shared vision of the EU and IRENA:

In 2024, global temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time, underscoring the urgent need to meet the Paris Agreement goals. The EU collaboration with the UAE and other global partners is vital as we strive to get back on track to achieve global targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency. We are committed to supporting IRENA in scaling up renewable energy investments and projects worldwide to address this pressing challenge.

The Delegation of the European Union to the UAE, in partnership with IRENA, will also host a “Green Hydrogen Workshop” on 15 January during the World Future Energy Summit. The event will bring together policymakers, business leaders, and industry experts from the EU, GCC, and beyond to advance sustainable energy solutions and green hydrogen development. Part of the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project, the workshop will explore regulatory frameworks, market opportunities, and investment strategies to unlock the potential of green hydrogen.

The European Union and its 27 member states are the world largest providers of climate finance contributing in 2023 €28.6 billion in climate finance from public sources and mobilised an additional amount of €7.2 billion of private finance to support developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.