As the United Nations marks its 80th year, world leaders, ministers, and climate advocates have gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC.
Representing Australia’s renewable energy sector, Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes joined the global stage to ensure Australia’s voice is part of the highest-level conversations on climate action.
Day 1 began with meetings at the Under2 Coalition, the Climate Week NYC Opening, and strategy sessions at Bloomberg HQ – setting the pace for an agenda packed with global collaboration.
The highlight of the day was John’s participation in the Global Renewables Summit 2025 – a closed-door, invitation-only event hosted by the Global Renewables Alliance with partners including the European Commission, COP30 Presidency, IRENA, and the Governments of the Bahamas and Kenya.
During the Global Renewable Energy Dialogues Roundtable, John joined international leaders to discuss:
- National energy plans
- Grid and storage transformation
- Financing for emerging markets
- Aligning global action to triple renewable capacity by 2030

John Grimes said:
“Australia’s renewable energy industry has a powerful role to play in the global transition. Being part of these critical dialogues ensures that our sector is heard, our expertise is recognised, and our partnerships continue to grow.”
The takeaway from Day 1 was clear: Australia’s renewable sector belongs on the global stage and the Smart Energy Council is making sure it’s there.
Media contact: Tim Lamacraft – tim@smartenergy.org.au – 0448 972 192