The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) held its annual ‘Public-Private Dialogue’ last week with the theme ‘COVID-19 as a game changer: Actions needed to accelerate the pace of the energy transition.’ Barry was joined by representatives from the energy industry and trade unions including:
Alan Heywood, Director of Group Strategy - BP
Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation
Gonzalo Saenz de Miera, Climate Change Director - Iberdrola
Shri Jatindra Nath Swain, Chairman & Managing Director, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Government of India
Barry’s interventions focused firstly on the UK’s renewable energy plans outlined by Boris Johnson’s ‘Green Industrial Revolution’, including investment in conventional renewables such as wind, new innovations such as green hydrogen and increased electrification of transport and domestic heating. Barry then charted a path for increased collaboration between governments and the energy industry in order to secure a just transition, citing the need for realism on both sides, greater transparency from industry about their renewable plans and climate risks in addition to placing worker’s rights and union representation at the heart of the transition.
You can watch Barry’s interventions here: