Reception and Dinner: Connecting Renewable Energy, Climate, and Peace Agendas at COP29 and Beyond

As the world undertakes a clean energy transition in response to climate change, it is imperative to link this to efforts to promote peace, stability, and greater resilience. This is particularly important for fragile and conflict-affected countries that are among the least electrified and most vulnerable to climate change. Clean energy in such settings can provide new opportunities for peacebuilding policies and practices; for example, by advancing economic, development, and security benefits in vulnerable communities, or by creating new openings for mediation around access to energy and resources. More must be done to ensure that climate solutions and climate finance are reaching those areas and communities where it can have the greatest impact.

This year at COP29, 15 November will serve as both the Peace, Relief, and Recovery Day and the Energy Day. This marks the third straight COP with a thematic focus on advancing Peace, a clear sign of the growing recognition that climate change is playing a role in conflicts around the world. At the same time, the various efforts at COP have yet to link renewable energy to the discussion on climate and peace—for example, the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at COP28 set a goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030, yet there was no explicit mention of renewable energy in the COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace. Amid growing momentum in renewable energy, a rise in conflict around the world, and increasing climate impacts, there is much to be gained from bringing these agendas closer together.

The discussion will address three questions:

1. How can we raise awareness and messaging around the connections between renewable energy and peace on the thematic day of Energy and Peace, Relief, and Recovery? What are key platforms, who are key messengers, and what are key statements or outcomes that can take up this message?
2. What are ways to take forward efforts on renewable energy and peace, particularly through projects, finance, and initiatives? Over the next year, can we catalyze more projects and evidence-building?
3. Can we bring key anchor institutions together—such as humanitarian, peacekeeping, health, climate, and energy access–in transformative ways for fragile and conflict-affected states and communities?