Join the celebration of International Energy Day, highlighting the importance of renewable energy and its role in combating climate change worldwide.
📰 International Day of Clean Energy: Latest Updates and the Global Transition
The world marks the International Day of Clean Energy every year on January 26th. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2023, the day serves as a critical focal point for global efforts to accelerate a just and inclusive transition to sustainable energy sources. It intentionally falls on the anniversary of the founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2009.
The overarching goal is to mobilize action and raise awareness for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2030.
The 2025 Focus: Tripling Renewables and Universal Access
Recent updates leading up to the International Day of Clean Energy 2025 underscore a significant, yet challenging, global trajectory:
- Renewables on the Rise: Renewables, especially solar and wind, are projected to become the world’s largest source of electricity generation for the first time around this period. Investment in solar PV now surpasses all other generation technologies combined.
- The Global Tripling Goal: A major push is on for countries to align their climate action plans with the global goal to triple renewables capacity by 2030. This requires rapid, widespread policy changes and significant financial flow, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).
- Energy Access Gap Persists: Despite progress, a stark challenge remains: approximately 675 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, with the majority residing in Sub-Saharan Africa.9 The day highlights that clean energy access is a pathway to eradicating poverty, improving health, and expanding education.
- A “Just and Inclusive” Transition: The discourse emphasizes the need for a “just transition,” which means shifting away from fossil fuels in a manner that protects workers and communities dependent on the fossil fuel economy, ensuring no one is left behind.
International Energy Day: Key Areas of Action and Progress
Global initiatives are moving forward on several fronts to power the energy transition:
1. Decarbonization and System Resilience
- Fossil Fuel Phase-Out: The message from global leaders is clear: the end of the fossil fuel age is certain, and governments must ensure a swift and fair phase-out. This is crucial for limiting global temperature rise to 1.50C.
- Climate-Proofing Infrastructure: With increasing extreme weather events, there is an urgent need to enhance the resilience of renewables-based power systems and other power infrastructure (like electricity grids) to withstand climate change impacts.
- Technological Innovation: Advances are being made in areas like Sodium-ion batteries (a potential disruptor in the EV and energy storage landscape) and the large-scale deployment of Green Hydrogen for decarbonizing “hard-to-abate” industrial sectors.
2. Policy and Finance Acceleration
- Increased Clean Energy Investment: Globally, investment in clean energy is now nearly twice that of fossil fuels. However, major imbalances exist, with EMDEs (outside China) receiving only about 15% of this spending. There is a strong call to increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks to address this finance gap.
- Smart Grid Development: Initiatives like the Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) Initiative are being expanded, bringing digitalization and resource efficiency into concrete projects to strengthen electricity systems and integrate new renewable capacity.
3. Socio-Economic Impact
- Job Growth: Clean energy sectors continue to fuel energy-related job growth worldwide, employing over 50% of the total energy workforce globally. This trend highlights the socio-economic benefits and new opportunities created by the transition.
- Regional Roadmaps: International organizations are publishing regional energy transition outlooks, such as one for South America, to provide a roadmap for a fair, inclusive, and resilient energy transition tailored to regional needs.
International Energy Day: Looking Ahead
As the world continues its march toward the 2030 deadline for SDG 7, the International Day of Clean Energy serves as a vital reminder that the transition is not solely an environmental imperative, but a catalyst for economic prosperity, enhanced energy security, and improved quality of life for billions. The emphasis is on collective action, innovation, and global cooperation to power a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for all.
