Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), discusses the Agency's resounding call to triple renewable energy capacity in the net zero transition. This compelling narrative could transform Southeast Asia's energy dynamics, bringing not only climate solutions but also economic growth and job opportunities to the region.
As IRENA charts a pathway to achieve the 1.5°C target by 2050, could you elaborate on IRENA's key priorities for the energy transition?
How will the energy transition benefit people in Southeast Asia?
What does the theme for this year’s SIEW, "Energy Transition towards a Net Zero World", mean for IRENA?
About Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Francesco La Camera was elected the second Director-General at the Ninth Assembly of IRENA and took office on 4 April 2019. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the fields of climate, sustainability, and international cooperation. In his role, Mr La Camera is responsible for leading the delivery of IRENA's work programme and strategy in cooperation with the Agency's member states. At a critical time for climate change and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, he is tasked with redefining the structure and operations of the Agency in response to the urgent needs of its members. A key priority of his tenure is to implement a more action-oriented approach to IRENA's work.
Mr La Camera was previously the Director-General for Sustainable Development, Energy and Climate at the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea, where he was involved in international cooperation and partnership agreements, especially in Small Island Developing States. He was a representative of Italy in many international forums, particularly at the European Union, UN Environment and OECD, and led the Italian delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)'s Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 to 24.
Mr La Camera graduated from the University of Messina with a degree in political science (concentration in Economic Policy). In his early career, he was an economic analyst with the Ministry of Budget & Planning, and a member of the Italian Environmental Impact Assessment Commission.