Minister Ferreira Attends Renewable Energy Assembly in UAE

#United Arab Emirates, January 20, 2018 – Abu Dhabi – Joining some 1100 delegates from over 150 countries, the Hon. Romauld S. Ferreira, Minister of the Environment & Housing, attended the Eighth Session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly on January 13-14, 2018 which was held at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).  The international body met to discuss private sector and civil society issues for global energy transition, and charting the way forward on deployment.

Minister Ferreira noted in addition, “IRENA hosted a special high-level event, outside of the Eighth Session of the IRENA Assembly, which focused on improving the capacity of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to develop and secure financing for renewable energy projects.”

He added, “IRENA is the global platform for cooperation on renewable energy and possesses a unique position to draw countries together.  The forum is designed to develop strategies and ultimately global solutions in accord to address climate and sustainable development challenges.  The side event also provided an ideal opportunity for each Member State to share in diversity — their individual cultural experiences, needs, and the best practices to meet these challenges with opportunity.”

Minister Ferreira reflected on his impression of IRENA’s high-level Ministerial Roundtable, which was held to share ideas on “the connection between an increasingly electrified transport sector and accelerated renewable energy deployment.”  He said the general idea of the meeting “was to explore different perspectives on scaling up the use of renewables, especially in e-mobility.”

IRENA, the international organization, was formed in 2009 on January 26, as a treaty organization to promote renewable energy and source funding for its 154 strong member countries, and 26 pending ascension to the assembly.  In addition to IRENA many UN organizations work in the field of renewable energy, however IRENA is the only one dedicated to the promotion of 100 percent renewable energy worldwide.   Nevertheless, IRENA and the UN will join forces to speed up the transformation of the global energy sector.

By: Gena Gibbs (BIS)

Photo caption: Bahamas Minister of the Environment and Housing, the Hon. Romauld S. Ferreira attended the Eighth Session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, January 13-14, 2018 at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

(BIS Photo)