Engagement with Parliamentarians
Parliamentarians have a crucial role in shaping energy and environmental policy. Their political leadership and initiative are needed now more than ever. To do this effectively, they need concise information and clearly articulated policy arguments and recommendations.
Targeted information on renewables, combined with insights and experience drawn from countries around the world, helps to make informed decisions on draft laws and budgets, as well as to formulate policies for a sustainable energy future. Key data and insights also help to bolster public support and build consensus on renewable energy deployment.
Parliamentarians are well placed to raise awareness, both among their constituents and in the broader public sphere. Often, they are among the first to hear local concerns that need to be addressed to make specific policies or projects viable. Thus, parliamentarians are essential for gathering the necessary support from communities to move climate policies. IRENA recognizes the responsibility of parliamentarians to use their power and authority to help transform all national legislations in aid of changing the planet.
By providing parliamentarians with evidence-based data and talking points, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) helps them to amplify their influence, whether in the executive branch, among regional and local stakeholders, or in the private sector and civil society. Dialogue with parliamentarians around the world, meanwhile, generates further insights. Investors, governments, and legislators should work together to implement the use of renewable energy, and the joint force of parliamentarians worldwide can foster innovative solutions to advance the energy transformation. In this regard, it is also necessary to develop robust and flexible regulations and policy frameworks to leverage public-private partnerships.
IRENA continues to expand its engagement with members of parliament and other legislators globally, disseminating relevant and up-to-date information, establishing an active network of renewable energy champions, and facilitating exchanges of information and best practices.
At the 138th IPU Assembly held in March 2018, 178 Parliaments unanimously adopted a resolution to promote the uptake of renewable energy entitled ‘Engaging the private sector in implementing the SDGs, especially on renewable energy’ ‘Engaging the private sector in implementing the SDGs, especially on renewable energy’.
Legislator's Point of View
“Legislators have the opportunity to create the stable environment to crowd in the amount of investments and the technologies we need to deploy.” – Hon. Kandeh Yumkella, Member of Parliament, Sierra Leone
“The post COVID19 will bring a new generation of challenges at all levels and a new energy paradigm. The pandemic demonstrated the need to prioritize an energy transition powered by renewable energy on the global agenda as it can play a key role in the economic recovery plans.” – Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui, Member of Parliament, Morocco
“We need to translate SDG7 targets into economic drivers that can be felt in household budgets.” – Hon. Willem-Frederik Schiltz, Member of the Flemish Parliament, Belgium
“Women are the main actors in the national economy… strongly involved in processing local products.” – Hon. Adji Diarra Mergane, Member of Senate, Senegal
IRENA Parliamentary Network
To facilitate the communication and interaction between parliamentarians around the world, IRENA has launched the IRENA Parliamentary Network Facebook Group. This group acts as platform for all parliamentarians working on energy related issues to exchange information and discuss developments in the field and is also the major IRENA tool of information sharing with legislators, in terms of research, events, and activities announcements. The IRENA Parliamentary Network Facebook Group is a closed group, with an invitations-only membership. To get in contact with us, interested members of Parliaments and legislators can kindly follow this link.
