“Renewable Energy Governance in the International System: The Role of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Advancing the Global Energy Transition”

Abstract

The initiative to shift to renewable energy is a powerful reaction against climate change. These transitions are not only a need but also an emergency in efficient energy security as well as sustainable development.  The changing size of international institutions have a very important role in the formation of norms and cooperation. The objective of this paper is to discuss the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and how it is governed within the international system. Under the conceptual and analytic strategy, this paper will examine the roles played by IRENA in fostering diffusion of renewable energy norms. The support network towards the member states on knowledge production and capacity building will be reviewed in the existing government structures. It presents the argument of a deficit in enforcement visibility by IRENA and emphasizes more on ad-hoc environments and weak government actions. Through an institutional role analysis of IRENA, the paper has added a wider discussion within the international relation field on the topic of global governance, the effectiveness of institutions, and political aspect of the energy transitions, which influence how states behave over time.