The world is facing into an abyss of irreversible climate change unless urgent action is taken, a renewable energy chief has warned.
Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), said collaboration was needed before the forthcoming Cop27 climate conference in Egypt to turn the tide.
Speaking as the Abu Dhabi-headquartered agency kicked off its 24th council meeting on Thursday in the capital, Mr La Camera said the world needed to step up its commitment to renewables.
“We are staring into a terrifying abyss of irreversible climate consequences, if we fail to act,” said Mr La Camera.
“The Irena council meeting comes at a critical point in time and gives the international community an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and bolster the world’s commitment to renewables for climate action before Cop27 and Cop28.”
The biannual two-day meeting, chaired this year by Uruguay, gathers more than 400 delegates from 108 countries in Abu Dhabi to discuss the world’s energy transition before Cop27 that starts in Egypt on November 6.
“We are convinced that Irena must continue to spearhead the penetration of renewable energy around the world,” said Fitzgerald Cantero, council chair and National Director of Energy of Uruguay.
“The solutions to mitigate energy poverty and the solution to the current energy crisis will come from renewables and those of us who are already on this path will take further strides in this direction.”
According to the International Energy Agency, the share of renewables in total electricity generation last year stood at about 30 per cent.
However, Irena has said despite the growth in renewable energy capacity over the past decade, the pace of change is inadequate to limit the rise in temperatures from pre-industrial levels.
The Paris Agreement on climate signed in 2015 aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C, and to keep them “well below” 2.0°C above pre-industrial times.
Cop27 will try to keep those targets alive.
Climate change around the world — in pictures
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Engineers carry solar panels on to the roof of a property in Barcelona in September 2022. Spain and other Mediterranean countries have generated record amounts of power from wind and solar farms. Bloomberg -
Smoke rises from brick factory stacks in Nahrawan, Baghdad. Tackling emissions from heavy industry is crucial to tackling global warming. Reuters -
A boy stands near a flock of sheep as a sandstorm approaches in the Syrian countryside of Tabqa. Syria is among the countries most vulnerable and poorly prepared for climate change, which is expected to worsen. AFP -
Mountains of smouldering rubbish at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi, India. Reuters -
Greenpeace activists take part in a climate change protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in May. AP -
A man carries water bottles across the heavily polluted Negro River in Manaus, Brazil. About 35 tonnes of rubbish are removed daily from the river. AP -
A helicopter drops water on a brush fire in California. Bloomberg -
UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa speaks on the opening day of the Bonn climate change conference in Germany. Getty -
Activists take part in a demonstration to raise awareness of global warming, during an event to mark World Environment Day in Kolkata. AFP -
A helicopter drops water on a bushfire near a residential district in Athens. The fire forced residents to flee. AFP -
A gauge measures water levels in the Rio Nambe river, in New Mexico. Ninety per cent of the state is experiencing extreme drought. Getty -
Afghan refugees search for recyclable material from heaps of rubbish in Karachi, Pakistan. AP -
A climate activist ties herself to the net during the semi-final tennis match between Croatia's Marin Cilic and Norway's Casper Ruud at the French Open in Roland Garros in Paris. AP -
A dance group performs at a climate summit in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty -
US climate envoy John Kerry talks to a delegate at the Stockholm 50 climate summit. Getty -
A boat is stranded during low tide at the Chebayesh marsh in Dhi Qar province, Iraq. Reuters -
A woman crosses a polluted river in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA -
A man walks past an abandoned boat in the bed of a drought-affected reservoir on the outskirts of Sana'a, Yemen. EPA
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