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Abu Dhabi will host next year’s International Renewable Energy Conference (IREC), a high-level political meeting dedicated to advancing worldwide renewable energy policy and innovation. The selection of the UAE to host the conference underscores the emirate’s active role in implementing renewable energy projects and accelerating clean technology. The conference will take place concurrently with the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, bringing two leading global clean energy platforms together to encourage the development and deployment of renewable energy.
REN21, the convening body behind the Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC), selects host countries that have demonstrated a proven commitment to accelerating renewable energy adoption. Previous conferences took place in New Delhi in 2010, Washington in 2008, Beijing in 2005 and Bonn in 2004.
“This is the first time this conference on renewable energy has come to the Middle East. It is a significant recognition of our strong leadership in the renewable energy sector,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy company. “We are honoured to be selected as the conference host. This decision validates our wise and visionary leadership’s commitment to advancing renewable energy, and establishing the UAE as an energy and sustainability hub.”
The conference brings government, private sector and civil society leaders together from across the world to address the goal of advancing renewable energy. Abu Dhabi is a pioneer in the Middle East. The emirate, which has developed a large number of renewable energy projects domestically and in other parts of the world, also hosts the headquarters of the new International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
“Abu Dhabi, through the work of Masdar, has played an important role in rallying the UAE and neighbouring countries to pursue successful renewable energy development plans,” said Adnan Amin, director-general of IRENA, which will hold its third general assembly in January, coinciding with the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. “The world energy leaders set to assemble in Abu Dhabi for these conferences will evaluate and formulate the policies to drive the transition to sustainable energy, including encouraging private-sector investment in renewables.”
IREC takes place every two years, alternating between developed and developing nations.
“Abu Dhabi’s commitment to encouraging the growth of renewable energy around the world makes it the ideal host for IREC in 2013,” said Mohamed Al Ashry, chairman of REN21. “The conference will bring powerful leaders together to discuss policies favourable to renewable energy and clean technology. Abu Dhabi is fuelling the upward trend of renewable energy growth and encouraging a massive scale-up of renewable technologies, especially in the region.”
REN21 is an international multi-stakeholder renewable energy policy network that advocates for policies conducive to the global adoption and growth of renewable energy. The 2010 IREC conference in New Delhi drew more than 13,000 participants, including ministers from 50 countries, officials from 70 countries, 600 exhibitors and 250 speakers.
With WFES, IRENA and ADIREC working together in 2013, Abu Dhabi has strengthened its already significant platform for dialogue and international cooperation on efforts to accelerate the global adoption of renewable energy.
“We are bringing together the biggest events and meetings in renewable energy under one umbrella, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week,” Dr. Al Jaber said. “This collaboration will create a strong platform for leaders in government, business and academia to address and encourage partnership, policy implementation and investment between the public and private sectors.”
Participants at ADIREC will include governments, international organisations, trade associations, corporates, NGOs and academics.
The conference will also unveil new research: REN21’s new flagship publication – the REN21 Renewables Global Futures Report – will be launched at ADIREC. Additionally, ADIREC will see the launch of a Middle East and North Africa status report that will showcase policy trends and investment opportunities across the region. Among other things, the report will highlight the business case for the deployment of renewable energy in countries across the region that export and/or import fossil fuels.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week – a global platform that addresses the interconnected challenges associated with the widespread acceleration and adoption of sustainable development and renewable energy – will take place January 13-17, 2013. ADSW will attract an anticipated 30,000 participants from 150 countries to Abu Dhabi for what will be the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East.
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