Belém, Brazil – Renewables have long been viewed primarily as a mitigation tool. But as climate shocks and impacts intensify, renewable energy is increasingly recognised for its value in adaptation, playing a critical role in saving lives and livelihoods during and after extreme weather events.
Adaptation without renewable energy is incomplete. Decentralised and diversified renewable energy systems keep key sectors such as agriculture, and essential services, such as health, running before, during, and after climate shocks. In a changing climate, renewable energy provides more energy security by reducing vulnerability to costly global fuel supply chain disruptions. Renewable energy resources are locally available, hence, renewables-based adaptation strategies provide a sense of community ownership, crucial to building resilient societies.
Integrating renewables into adaptation strategies is not only climate-smart; it is an economic necessity. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), every dollar invested in adaptation and resilience generates more than USD 10 in benefits over ten years. REN21’s assessment of 76 National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and 64 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) shows that developing and climate-vulnerable countries are already leading the way in using renewables to strengthen resilience of essential services, before, during and after climate shocks.
Recognising this leadership goes hand in hand with acknowledging the essential role that renewable energy plays in effective climate adaptation. Integrating renewables into national adaptation plans and strategies is in every country’s interest. Without embedding renewables in national climate frameworks, governments risk leaving their economies increasingly exposed to escalating climate shocks.
Adaptation finance for renewable energy remains minimal, despite its proven role in keeping essential systems running during crises. COP30 is a critical moment to change that.
- Without adaptation, up to 23% of global GDP may be lost by 2050.
- Strategic, renewable-based adaptation could raise GDP by 15 percentage points and create millions of resilient local jobs.
- 83 countries — the majority are developing and climate-vulnerable — already include renewables for adaptation in their NAPs and Third NDCs.
- 22 countries consider decentralised renewables as direct resilience measures in their national climate and adaptation plans.
What: News Conference at COP30 highlighting new evidence on renewables for adaptation and resilience.
Where: Press Conference Room 2 Webcast: https://unfccc.int/cop30/meetings-at-a-glance?date=2025-11-15
When: Saturday 15 November – 15:30 – 16:00 local time – BRT
Who:
- Rana Adib – REN21 Executive Director
- Tina Stege – The Republic of Marshall Islands Climate Envoy
- Dr. James Fletcher – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Climate Envoy, Former Energy Minister of Saint Lucia
- Emilie Beauchamp – International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) -Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Lead for Adaptation, Lead Author for WGII of IPCC AR7
- Climate Analytics (TBC)
Resources: https://www.ren21.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Renewables-for-Climate-Adaptation-and-Resilience_REN21-Strategic-Intelligence-Brief.pdf
For more information, contact:
Rochelle Gluzman, REN21
rochelle.gluzman@ren21.net
WhatsApp: +33616238367
