Saeed Al Hajar, WAM (Abu Dhabi)

On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Highness Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Candidate for the United Nations Conference of the Parties. COP28 Climate Change Convention, United Arab Emirates delivered a speech at the 13th session of the General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
In his speech, His Excellency emphasized that the UAE, and in line with leadership directives, will continue to fully support the agency in fulfilling its mission, saying, “The UAE will remain the closest and most loyal supporter of IRENA.”, he highlighted that the renewable energy sector offers great potential for growth and development and that the role of “Irina” will grow more than ever in the crucial coming years.
He said: “Since its inception, IRENA has paved the way for the exceptional growth the world has witnessed in the field of renewable energy, leading that growth by guiding supportive policies and encouraging the adoption of new technologies. It contributed to cost reduction.”
He added that “last year, renewable energies accounted for 81% of the total new generations added worldwide. The sector will continue to grow over the next five years at rates greater than the total growth rate of the last twenty years. for years. Wind and solar energy have become the least expensive of all.
His Excellency explained that in the next seven years the world will need three times the current production capacity of renewable energy, and that the world must move at a much faster pace than ever before, and that the agency will have “a key role in leadership in this accelerated global movement at all levels” across sectors, regions and communities.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber noted that IRENA will need to focus on both “adaptation” and “innovation” to keep up with the scale and speed of change required, citing the “power system transformation” as an example. Financing Acceleration Platform”, launched within the framework of the Conference of the Parties. COP26,” noting that the UAE has pledged $400 million in seed funding to support this platform, which is already helping funnel funds to developing economies. His Excellency explained that the UAE has experienced the benefits of adopting renewable energy based on its pioneering experience in the field.
He said: “Seventeen years ago, under his leadership, the UAE launched a plan to explore the potential of renewable energy and its benefits quickly became apparent when we established the world’s largest and cheapest solar power plants. to form a key pillar to support our development path towards climate neutrality, and we have invested $50 billion in renewable energy worldwide,” noting that these investments have shown that climate action goals can be supported alongside growth economy and that IRENA has been along this journey and will continue to be an important supporter in steering the efforts in the right direction.
His Excellency expressed the UAE’s desire to strengthen its partnership with IRENA and benefit from the experience of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) for the benefit of the world as the state, in cooperation with IRENA, will focus on promoting innovation and climate ambitions. To achieve a realistic, practical and gradual transition in the energy system, the country will also propose promising solutions based on science and reality, supported by policies and supported by sectors, to take advantage of all opportunities and potential to achieve integral progress. in climate action.
At the end of his speech, His Excellency extended an open invitation to the public to work together and cooperate with the UAE to achieve a quantum leap towards achieving tangible progress and securing the COP28 Conference of the Parties. Targeted results.
It should be noted that the sessions of the General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are held with the presence of the group of heads of state and government of member countries, ministers and decision-makers in energy matters. The International Renewable Energy Agency and countries seeking to join the Agency, as well as multilateral organizations and partners, international actors and the private sector, to assess and discuss long-term perspectives, possible barriers and solutions. Transition to the energy sector.