As the world faces an unprecedented climate emergency, the call to action is clear: global renewable capacity must triple, and energy efficiency must double by 2030 to meet Paris Agreement goals. However, the pace of renewable infrastructure deployment remains well below required levels. Despite improvements, bottlenecks in permitting—particularly in equitable community engagement, marine spatial planning, and regulatory complexity—significantly hinder the realisation of the 1.5°C pathway. The IRENA/GRA/COP29 tracking report estimates that achieving these targets necessitates annual renewable capacity additions of 1,044 GW—a rate that demands streamlined, efficient permitting frameworks across regions.

Permitting is one of the core areas where reforms are most needed. The Planning for Climate Coalition’s (PCC) 9-point plan, underscores the need to fast-track permitting, especially in emerging markets where community involvement, land ownership, and spatial conflicts are critical considerations. It highlights practical measures like establishing clear timelines, embedding community consultation, and integrating planning instruments such as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and zoning regulations to align stakeholders early in the project cycle. The backlog of renewable capacity awaiting grid connection and marine spatial conflicts illustrates the urgent need to address these constraints.

At the September 2024 Global Renewables Summit roundtable in New York, stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society highlighted the barriers that permitting frameworks face. These include balancing environmental and social considerations, resolving land-use conflicts, and ensuring equitable engagement with affected communities. With the rapid expansion of offshore wind projects, the roundtable also underscored the challenges unique to offshore permitting, where delays can impact large-scale infrastructure. This panel will build on these discussions, showcasing complementary strategies essential for meeting renewable targets, with contributions from Amazon AWS (EasyPermits), the Green Grids Initiative, Ørsted, CEPSA, Octopus Energy, and Vestas. These industry leaders will share insights on dismantling administrative barriers and fostering collaboration.