On Monday, June 1, 2015 the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, in cooperation with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hosted an event titled “The Renewable Energy Transition: The Impact on Climate Change, Energy Security, and Economic Development.” Panelists included Adnan Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Amos Hochstein, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the US Department of State, and Todd Foley, Chief Strategy Officer at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE). The Hon. Richard L. Morningstar, Founding Director of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, delivered welcome remarks, and Annie Medaglia, Deputy Director of the Global Energy Center, moderated the panel discussion.
Adnan Amin and Amos Hochstein delivered keynote remarks prior to the panel discussion. Mr. Amin gave an overview of the trajectory of renewables as outlined in IRENA’s Global Energy Roadmap – REmap 2030 and touched on key sector findings, costs and benefits, and technologies. Mr. Hochstein addressed the impact of renewables on energy geopolitics. The panel addressed the emergence of renewable energy as an important component of US energy policy and explored the benefits that renewables can bring to domestic and international considerations on climate change, energy security, and economic developments.