“I believe the Second Assembly has shown that IRENA is now emerging onto the world stage as an operational intergovernmental organisation ready to generate change,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.
In a closing address UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told nearly 1,000 delegates from 137 countries, the European Union and 57 organisations, that the success of the Assembly on the eve of the launch of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) marked an auspicious start to this important initiative.
“Renewable energy is a central element in meeting the Millennium Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, environmental sustainable development and health,” he added. “Sustainability cannot be tackled by isolated action. IRENA has provided much-needed political impetus and direction to our efforts.”
The Secretary-General said he welcomed the participation of IRENA’s Director-General on his High-level Group for SE4All and said that IRENA would play a key role in meeting the initiative’s objective of doubling the share of renewables in the world’s energy mix by 2030. “Meeting the needs of developing countries requires dramatic growth in the global energy sector,” said Mr. Amin.“Renewable energy will play an essential role in improving the access of millions to energy, while ensuring energy security and mitigating the risk of climate change by reducing emissions.”
The Assembly approved IRENA’s 2012 Work Programme and Budget. “The countries’ decision to significantly increase the IRENA core budget, despite current global financial constraints, is a sign of confidence in IRENA and its activities,” said Mr. Amin.
An important outcome of the two-day Assembly was the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development procedure, which has positive implications for developing countries. Other highlights were the interactive Ministerial Roundtables, one of which discussed cooperation with the private sector, while the second focused on policy issues related to IRENA’s medium-term strategy.
Activities also included technical meetings of the Global Solar and Wind Atlas, and on the competitiveness of renewable power generation. The main Assembly events were preceded by a special IRENA Pacific Leaders Meeting and ran alongside meetings of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Group for SE4All.
Water-energy nexus
IRENA also partnered with the German Federal Government to organise a thematic reception to discuss “the Water-Energy-Food Nexus - The Role of Renewable Energy in the Green Economy” at which Mr. Amin spoke.
The meeting was held to consider the links between water, energy and food in the developing world in the light of the UN’s SE4All targets of doubling both the rate of energy efficiency improvements and the share of renewables in the global energy mix.
Many of the Assembly delegates also attended the 2012 World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi where IRENA and its partners hosted an information and discussion booth, joining more than 150 eminent speakers, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions under an underlying theme of Powering Sustainable Innovation.
Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, President of the First IRENA Assembly, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, officially opened the event and announced the appointment of the incoming President of the Second Assembly, Mr. Salvador Namburete, Minister of Energy for Mozambique.
Mr. Namburete said: “Interest in this Assembly shows that renewable energy has moved from the margins to centre stage of global debate. I salute the IRENA Secretariat for having catalysed this change in a relatively short period of time and laying the foundation for taking IRENA to even greater heights.”
The Assembly was also addressed by Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary General for the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), who emphasised the role of IRENA in developing the use of renewable energy across the world.
In his final address to the Assembly Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber said: “If 2011 was about ensuring that IRENA is on the right track, then 2012 will be about proving that we are able – together – to seize this unique and opportune moment to take further concrete action. 2012 will be about empowering IRENA and its leadership.”
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