World leaders pledge their support for IRENA

World leaders expressed their support for the work of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the World Future Energy Summit, taking place in Abu Dhabi (January 16-19)

At the WFES opening ceremony Wen Jiabao, Premier of China, said that his country would continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Agency, while Kim Hwang-sik, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea commended the role of IRENA in promoting renewable energy technology.

Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visited IRENA’s information stand at the WFES where he discussed renewable energy issues with the Agency’s Director General Mr. Adnan Z. Amin.

Earlier UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who launched his International Year of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) at the WFES, had told delegates to the IRENA Second Assembly, which preceded the WFES, they had an important role to play in meeting the initiative’s objective of doubling the share of renewables in the world’s energy mix by 2030. “Sustainability cannot be tackled by isolated action,” he said. “IRENA has provided much-needed political impetus and direction to our efforts.”