The 16th assembly of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has formally kicked off in Abu Dhabi, the capital United Arab Emirates on January 11, 2026. The conference organized with the main slogan “Powering humanity: renewable energy for shared prosperity,” was participated in by more than 1500 delegates from 171 countries across the world.
The 16th International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly organized from 11-12 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi – marking the first international energy meeting of the year.
Under the theme ‘Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity,’ the global gathering brought together 1500 ministers and high-level delegates from IRENA’s 171 Member States, CEOs, investors, international organisations and youth to build a shared agenda and international cooperation priorities for a better energy future the international community can rally in 2026. The aim is to establish a joint agenda and determine priorities for international cooperation towards a better energy future. Key discussions were focused on regional energy transitions, critical enablers like grids, energy planning, digital innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), mobilising finance including sustainable aviation fuels as well as the question of how renewables can boost agri-foods systems and green industrialisation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his virtual address, said that clean energy transition is unstoppable and irreversible. He further said that even though technology is soaring, infrastructure to support it is still lagging.
Guterres reminded delegates of an urgent need to build energy systems that are clean, secure, and aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal.
Minister of Energy of the Dominican Republic, Joel Santos, and the President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock and UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Amnabint Abdullah Al Dahak addressed the opening session.
Dr Amnabint Abdullah Al Dahak, in his speech, reminded delegates that despite geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties and the climate crisis derailing potential for scaling up renewable energy, the momentum has not stalled.
“It’s time to ignite a global push and positive vision for the energy transition”, remarked IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. ‘The world is changing fast. Shifting geopolitics and intensifying climate impacts are putting countries’ energy resilience at risk. While renewables are breaking records year after year, progress remains geographically uneven, leaving many countries locked out of the benefits renewables bring. That is why IRENA Assembly has put real-world solutions and new approaches center stage – unlocking the full potential of the energy transition as a driver of inclusive development, structural transformation and long-term resilience in both developing and developed countries.’
He explained that the global energy system is transitioning from a centralized, fossil fuel-based model to a decentralised one relying on renewable energy, including green hydrogen. Last year, 92% of new electricity capacity came from renewables, and expected addition of nearly 70 gigawatts while this year may set a new record. This capacity is twice that of total nuclear capacity built in the last seven years. He urged countries to enhance their renewable energy strategies for economic development, security, and decarbonisation. Countries that act swiftly will gain competitiveness, while slower nations may lag behind. He highlighted the importance of international cooperation for supporting the energy transition through low-cost financing and innovative tools, noting IREA’s membership growth to 171 as a testament to this collaboration’s significance.
He explained that the number of IRENA members has risen to 171, reflecting growing confidence in the agency’s role and the importance of international cooperation in the field of renewable energy. He affirmed that this growth strengthens the agency’s unique role in guiding the global transition towards a more secure, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Permanent representative of Nepal to IRENA Tej Bahadur Chhetri, executive director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre Nawa Raj Dhakal, the councillor at Nepalese Embassy at Abu Dhabi, Deputy chief and first secretary were the team members participating in the IRENA Assembly.
Addressing the Assembly representing Nepal, Nawa Raj Dhakal stated that Nepal’s energy development roadmap has adopted the goal of expanding the country’s electricity production capacity to 28,500 megawatts by 2035, increasing annual per capita energy consumption to 1,500 kilowatt-hours, and exporting 15,000 megawatts of electricity by the same period. He mentioned us that it is very important to achieve ambitious goals related to renewable energy. In addition, the total estimated cost of achieving Nepal’s NDC targets by 2035 is 73.74 billion US dollars, and about 85 percent of it is estimated to be obtained from international climate finance and collaboration.
Similarly, during the Pre-Assembly held on January 10, during the various meetings on Call to Action on Skilling for Energy Transition and Mobilizing Finance for Clean Cooking, Dhakal made his statements on behalf of Nepal. Solar, biogas, hydropower and electrical technology are in progress. Moreover, he presented information on Nepal’s Clean Cooking to IRENA and development partner organizations, mainly in four major areas – education and public awareness, quality assurance, a favourable environment for the private sector, and a low-interest loan for consumers, requesting technical and financial cooperation.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is a lead global intergovernmental agency for energy transformation that serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, supports countries in their energy transitions, and provides state of the art data and analyses on technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment. IRENA drives the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, and energy security, for economic and social resilience and prosperity and a climate-proof future.
