Feb 9, 2009

Overcoming barriers to innovation and change: the creation of a new international agency to promote renewable energy.

Last month marked the creation of a new international agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), exclusively focused on the promotion of renewable energy technologies.

More than 120 government delegations from across the world attended a conference in Bonn. The Agency’s statute was signed on January 26, 2009 by a total of 75 nations, a broad cross-section of developing and industrialized countries. Canada did not attend.

The initiative was led by Germany, Denmark, Spain, and Poland.

“The founding of IRENA is a milestone on the road towards a future-oriented energy supply. It is a clear sign that the global energy paradigm is changing and that more and more governments are committed to accelerating that shift.”

“The aim of the new Agency is to work throughout the world to close the gap that exists between the enormous potential of renewables and their current relatively low market share in energy consumption. IRENA is the first international organisation to focus exclusively on the issue of renewable energies, addressing both the industrialized and the developing world. The main work of IRENA will be to advise its members on creating the right frameworks, building capacity, and improving financing and the transfer of technology and know-how for renewable energies. IRENA seeks to cooperate closely with other international organisations and institutions active in the field of renewable energy.”

For more information, see www.irena.org

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thank you for the article. I was wondering why Canada (not to mention the US and Australia was missing). Apparently, we feel that we participate in enough other similar organizations.


"Canada's preferred approach is to continue its engagement on renewable energy initiatives within organizations to which it already belongs," wrote DFAIT spokeswoman Eugénie Cormier-Lassonde in an email. DFAIT confirmed this week Canada's position remains unchanged."

"As examples, she cited the International Energy Agency, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership and the Global Bio-Energy Partnership."

Source: http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/renewable_energy-2-4-2009

I think Canada should of at least sent an observer.