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International Renewable Energy Agency’s success in developing countries

The World Energy Forum in Dubai from October 22 to 24 is a major event. It is the first time this event is being held away from UN headquarters in New York.

Renewable energy in developing countries to inspire world http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/renewable-energy-in-developing-countries-to-inspire-world-1.1090242 Around 160 countries joined Irena within a few years — an unprecedented achievement By Binsal Abdul Kader,   October 16, 2012 Abu Dhabi: Initiatives in renewable energy in developing countries will inspire the world to adopt clean energy to address energy poverty and climate change caused by pollution, a top official of International Renewable Energy said on Monday.

A group of Pacific island nations which used to generate 100 per cent
energy from imported diesel, have now started heavily investing in
renewable energy, said Adnan Z Ameen, Director General of
International Renewable Energy Agency, at a press briefing.
The UAE is also playing a great role in this transformation as the
country is investing in a 10 megawatt solar power project in the
island nation of Tonga, he said. Tonga has set a target to generate
100 per cent energy from renewables by 2030, he said. Many developing
countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East have also made such
roadmaps and policy frameworks to adopt renewable energy, Ameen
pointed out.
In the Middle East, Morocco has invested $1.1 billion (Dh4 billion) in
renewable energy in 2011. Saudi Arabia plans to generate 41 gigawatt
energy within a few years, which will save half a million barrels of
oil used for energy generation. Such initiatives after the UAE’s lead
to host Irena in Abu Dhabi has changed the discussion on global
climate change. The nations producing (polluting) hydrocarbons are
leading the discussions to promote clean energy, Ameen said.He said
the Irena is trying to change culture and philosophy of development in
the international arena. The existing model is donor-recipient
relationship between international funding agencies and developing
nations which produced mixed results. Ameen said Irena is trying a
participatory model in which public and private sectors work together
to promote renewable energy.
About 160 countries have joined Irena within a few years and it is an
unprecedented achievement for a international organisation.
A series of activities in the coming months will help promote
renewable energy, Ameen said. The World Energy Forum in Dubai from
October 22 to 24 is a major event. It is the first time this event is
being held away from UN headquarters in New York. He congratulated
Dubai Government not only for hosting the event but initiating
investments in renewable energy recently.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January will also be a major event.
Ameen was elected the first director general of Irena in April 2011.
In his capacity, he is responsible for leading the agency in the
implementation of its mandate to promote the adoption and use of
renewable energy worldwide.

October 17, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, decentralised