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RITIKA SHARMA / EMIRATES BUSINESS
Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) marked half a decade of efforts towards a sustainable and green planet on Monday. Turning five, the global body looks forward to expanding its role as the universal voice of renewables.
Adnan Z Amin, IRENA Director-General, said, “The past five years have witnessed a dramatic shift in the global energy sector. Technology costs of renewables have plummeted, investment is growing year over year and global capacity additions have skyrocketed.†“Leaders from the public and private sector around the world are committing to renewables over other energy sources in an unprecedented manner. We are truly in the midst of a total transformation of the global energy paradigm,†he pointed out.
As a fully-fledged inter-governmental organisation, IRENA has seen widely-accepted international recognition. It is acknowledged as the lead agency for renewable energy in climate action, with concrete initiatives profiled at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit 2014 and at COP21 in Paris.
IRENA was also selected as the Hub for Renewable Energy within the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Last October, the G20 Energy Ministerial adopted an IRENA-led toolkit for renewable energy deployment.
Since 2011, IRENA’s engagement has grown to more than 175 countries — with activities taking place in 90 nations around the world.