Saudi Arabia is strengthening its partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to further sustainability efforts, according to Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s director-general. Speaking during the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP16, La Camera described the Kingdom as a prominent leader in shifting away from fossil fuels, crediting the Saudi Green Initiative for driving this progress.
La Camera noted that global renewable energy capacity reached record growth last year, propelled by developments in green hydrogen and sustainable biomass. He revealed that IRENA is working toward a new agreement with Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which will include closer collaboration with Saudi Arabia.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role, La Camera pointed to ACWA Power as a standout example, noting the company’s investments in renewable projects across twelve countries. He emphasized the importance of all nations, including Saudi Arabia, submitting updated national climate contributions by February 2025, according to statements given to Arab News.
La Camera outlined the need to address infrastructure challenges by building interconnected, flexible energy grids to better integrate renewables. He stressed that regional cooperation is essential to achieving these goals. During the Saudi Green Initiative, he also called for market reforms to favor renewables and emphasized the need to reskill workers transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy sectors.
IRENA’s director-general concluded by highlighting the importance of long-term planning and aligning financial investments to support the renewable energy sector’s evolving needs.
