With the confirmation as the permanent home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi vows to continue its bold initiatives to accelerate the development of renewable energy and further innovations in clean technologies.

Speaking at a press conference at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) after the conclusion of the two-day inaugural First General Assembly, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change and President of the first General Assembly of (IRENA), said: “The International Renewable Energy Agency has come into its official existence as an organisation, endorsing the mandate of the global community for sustainable and clean technology. The UAE and its people are proud, and honored for Abu Dhabi to be the permanent home of IRENA. Guided by our leadership’s vision, the UAE has taken bold steps to develop and deploy renewable energy, and we are looking forward to further collaboration with IRENA nations to accelerate the global adoption. We are committed to integrating new sources of power and commercializing the technologies that will enable a clean energy future.”

The press conference was also attended by Adnan Amin from Kenya who was sworn in as Director General of IRENA for a four-year term.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the members of IRENA, for confirming by acclamation the United Arab Emirates as the permanent headquarters of the organization,” said Dr. Al Jaber. “With an eye toward the adoption and dissemination of renewable energy worldwide, we believe IRENA will truly serve as an agency that steers away from bureaucracy and enacts measurable change. We remain firm in our pledge to provide the right platform for propagating clean technology.

“IRENA was created to accelerate the global adoption of renewable energy,” added Dr. Al Jaber. “For the agency to live up to its promise, it must focus on delivering real, measurable results that address the critical issues we seek to address. A high-level ministerial meeting during the last two days engaged in strategic discussions that will enable IRENA to achieve its aggressive and ambitious goals.”

Officials including Conrod Hunte from Antigua and Barbuda, Stephen Motsa from Swaziland, Benedikt Høskuldsson from Iceland, and Alexander Mikhalevich from Belarus were elected as Vice-Presidents of the Agency, while Abubakar Sani Sambo of Nigeria was chosen as rapporteur of IRENA.

The UAE, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, the Dominican Republic, Gambia, Iceland, Norway, India and Swaziland were appointed to the Credentials Committee. Additionally, a 21-member geographically balanced council of countries with two-year tenure was also formed to ensure IRENA moves steadily ahead toward achieving its goals. The first session of the General Assembly gathered 800 delegates from 150 nations and was attended by more than 90 ministers.

IRENA Director General, Adnan Amin, said: “Today is a historic occasion and an exciting moment because for the first time in two decades an international agency has been created with such universal participation. The world is looking for a practical answer to the question that must be provided in the next decade or so. And IRENA is the expression of that hope, and its location here in Abu Dhabi also signals the tremendous expression of commitment this country has placed in clean energy, bringing the best minds to work for Masdar Institute and other Masdar components, and investing in new technology for renewable energy. These developments provide us with ample reason for approving the location of the headquarters of IRENA in Abu Dhabi.

“I accept my role ‘with humility and a great sense of responsibility,’ added Amin. “The new role highlights my firm belief that IRENA will meet the expectations of the international community.”

The UAE congratulated the members of IRENA on electing its first Director-General, and thanked Amin for his work thus far in bringing IRENA on the “right track.”

In addition to IRENA, the UAE continues to demonstrate its devotion to implementing various sustainability initiatives and hosting key international events focusing on sustainability. The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) meeting, to be held from 6-7 in Abu Dhabi, will be attended by high-level representatives from governments as well as public and private sector organisations.

A C3E forum, part of Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) initiative, will also be held concurrently with the second CEM. The forum will have two workshops highlighting the contribution to empowering the next generation of women for the betterment of the community.

The UAE has emerged as a global hub for renewable energy development, demonstrated through a variety of programmes including the inception of the Masdar initiative, the World Future Energy Summit, the Zayed Future Energy Prize and its involvement in the Clean Energy Ministerial. Masdar City – Abu Dhabi’s sustainable, urban development – is an international centre for collaboration on clean technology and renewable energy that is attracting partnerships with world-class businesses and academic institutions.
 

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