IRENA at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

Clean, reliable and affordable energy is the key for sustainable development. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an intergovernmental organisation, seeks to accelerate the deployment of all forms of renewable energy, to facilitate the global transition to a sustainable energy future. IRENA engages with 158 countries (96 Members and 62 Signatories/applicants for membership).

IRENA’s activities at Rio+20 will focus on areas that the Agency is currently working in, such as renewable energy deployment in Africa, mapping the world’s renewable energy resources, and facilitating funding for renewable energy projects in developing countries. They will include the following:

This assessment of renewable energy resources is designed to answer questions that are crucial for decision-makers and investors such as: What share of a country’s energy mix cdan be supplied by renewable energy? Where are the resources located? What is the most effective combination of technologies? How much investment is required? Is there a market large enough for creating a supply chain?

Date and time
Speakers:
Mr. Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General, IRENA
Dr. Victorio Oxilia Davalos, Executive Secretary, Latin American Energy Organization
H.E. Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy, South Africa
H.E. Martin Lidegaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, Denmark
Dr. Altino Ventura, Secretary of Planning and Energy Development, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, United Arab Emirates
Dr. Karsten Sach, Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation, Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
Mr. Steve Sawyer, Secretary-General, Global Wind Energy Council

This side event will bring together Ministers and Senior Officials to address the role of renewable energy in meeting the growing energy demand in Africa.

Date and time: 20 June 2012, 11:00 – 12:30
Venue: RioCentro, Room T-2
Moderator: Mr Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General, IRENA
Speakers:
H.E. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
H.E. Antero Veiga, Minister of Environment, Cape Verde
H.E. Fouad Douiri, Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, Morocco
H.E. Salvador Namburete, Minister of Energy, Mozambique
H.E. Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy, South Africa
Discussants:
H.E. Jean Couldiaty, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Burkina Faso
H.E. Jean Marie Nibirantije, Minister of Environment, Burundi
H.E. Hélé Pierre, Minister of Energy/Environment, Cameroon
H.E. Francois Naoueyama, Minister of Environment, Central African Republic
H.E. Hassan Omar Mohamed, Minister of Housing, Urban Planning and Environment, Djibouti
H.E. Alfa Bocar Nafo, Minister of Environment/Energy, Mali
H.E. Issoufou Issaka, Minister of Hydraulic and Environment, Niger
H.E. Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, Minister of Energy/Environment, Sao Tomé & Principe
H.E. Oluniyi Robbin Coker, Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Sierra Leone
H.E. Hassan Abdel Gadr Hilal, Minister of Environment, Forests and Physical Development, Sudan
H.E. Macford Sibandze, Minister of Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Swaziland

The Director-General of IRENA, Mr. Adnan Z. Amin, will be Facilitator of Session 4, entitled “Sustainable Energy is Enabling People” (21 June, 16:45 – 17:15) of the UN High-level Side event on Sustainable Energy for All. He will be speaking also at several side events.

The IRENA exhibition booth will display products designed for policymakers and practitioners in renewable energy deployment. They include two publications just released: a cost-analysis series of renewable energy resources and a study on job creation through renewable energy deployment in rural areas of developing countries.

IRENA - the International Renewable Energy Agency, founded in 2009, held its first Assembly in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) in April 2011, where the Agency is headquartered. With the participation of 158 States, 95 Member States, and the European Union, IRENA has become a nexus of international efforts to accelerate the worldwide deployment of renewable energy technologies.

IRENA media contact during Rio+20:
Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele
Senior Communications and Media Advisor
Email: cmaele@irena.org
Mobile phone: +971 55 493 6844
Website: www.irena.org