Global Cooperation Key to Accelerating Clean Energy Transition
The deployment of new energy technologies throughout the remainder of this decade will increasingly depend on the ability of governments, businesses, and international institutions to collaborate effectively in overcoming barriers that continue to impede investment and infrastructure development, according to the latest Breakthrough Agenda report.
Produced jointly by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Climate High-Level Champions, the annual report highlights that while many nations remain committed to international cooperation on energy and climate issues, converting ambitions into measurable outcomes continues to present significant challenges. The 2026 edition evaluates sector-specific action plans developed under the COP30 Action Agenda in 2025 and outlines a series of near-term priorities designed to accelerate emissions reductions across six critical sectors.
The report is published amid ongoing volatility in global energy markets and rising worldwide demand for energy services, particularly electricity. Global electricity consumption increased by approximately 3% in 2025—more than double the rate of overall energy demand growth. Renewable energy and nuclear power accounted for nearly 60% of this increase, while annual additions of renewable energy capacity reached a record 800 gigawatts (GW). Investment also continued to expand in electricity grids, electrified transportation, and industrial decarbonization initiatives.
Despite these advances, global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions rose slightly in 2025, underscoring the persistent gap between current policy pathways and internationally agreed climate objectives. The report notes that the principal challenges facing energy transitions are no longer centered solely on long-term ambition, but increasingly on the ability to develop projects, infrastructure, and markets at the pace required.
International cooperation has expanded considerably in recent years, with governments, private-sector organizations, and international institutions establishing a growing number of partnerships and initiatives throughout the energy sector. According to the report, this trend reflects a widespread recognition that many implementation challenges—including infrastructure development, supply chain resilience, financing, and market creation—cannot be addressed through national efforts alone.
However, the increasing number of initiatives has also contributed to a more complex international landscape. In several sectors, overlapping programs and fragmented approaches to emissions reduction risk slowing progress, particularly where success depends on coordinated investment, shared infrastructure, or harmonized standards. To enhance coordination and effectiveness, the Global Climate Action Agenda introduced implementation plans aimed at accelerating practical solutions and focusing international collaboration on specific sectoral and value-chain challenges.
The report emphasizes that international cooperation delivers the greatest impact when it addresses common obstacles affecting investment, infrastructure development, and market growth. Key priorities include harmonizing standards to prevent market fragmentation, pooling resources to mitigate risks associated with large-scale and first-of-a-kind projects, and improving access to financing in emerging and developing economies.
In addition, the report highlights the critical role of governments in advancing these efforts. Although many international initiatives already benefit from the participation of businesses, financial institutions, and multilateral organizations, the success of the next phase of global collaboration will largely depend on governments taking a more active role in shaping, endorsing, and implementing proposed action plans.
Building on previous editions of the Breakthrough Agenda series, this year’s report identifies a range of near-term priorities intended to strengthen investment conditions, accelerate technology deployment, and support market development ahead of the next Global Stocktake scheduled for 2028.
Originally launched at COP26 in 2021, the Breakthrough Agenda serves as a framework for enhancing international cooperation across major emissions-intensive sectors. Its objective is to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible, and attractive options worldwide by 2030.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol stated: “The current energy crisis demonstrates that strong international cooperation remains indispensable in helping countries address shared energy challenges. While investment in critical energy technologies continues to grow robustly across many regions, achieving faster progress will require governments to work together to reduce risks, strengthen markets, and expand the infrastructure necessary to support sustainable growth.”
Samed Ağırbaş, COP31 Climate High-Level Champion, commented: “International efforts are becoming increasingly focused on implementation and measurable outcomes. The Global Climate Action Agenda reflects this evolution by connecting governments with non-state actors to ensure that commitments made during negotiations are translated into tangible action on the ground.”
Dan Ioschpe, COP30 Climate High-Level Champion, added: “Through greater alignment of initiatives, enhanced coordination, and effective delivery across sectors, the Action Agenda aims to ensure that commitments result in concrete progress. International cooperation remains fundamental to this objective, enabling the expansion of renewable energy, the development of cleaner cities, more resilient infrastructure, and the mobilization of finance to areas where it is needed most.”
Source: IEA