IRENA meeting aims to accelerate new energy deployment in the Pacific region

World leaders, international agencies and advocates of renewable energy gathered this week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the Second Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to accelerate renewable energy deployment in the region, which is currently heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

“The Pacific Region is an area where volatile fuel prices, long and costly supply routes, and relatively small energy markets have resulted in high costs and limited access to energy,” said IRENA’s director-general, Adnan Z. Amin. “Renewable resources are a competitive, low-cost alternative for fossil fuels for the Pacific, and some inspiring renewable energy goals are being set. Some States are aiming for 100 percent renewable power supply, while others plan to balance their increased use of renewables against substantial reductions in fuel imports.” He added “We must bring all actors to the table; we must provide the knowledge base to support action globally. Above all we must be transparent and effective.”

The meeting – which included six heads of state and IRENA members from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, gathered around the theme “Powering Sustainable Innovation” to discuss IRENA’s proposed role in accelerating its deployment opportunities for collaboration with other stakeholders and development partners, and provided guidance on IRENA’s new proposals.

During the meeting, leaders welcomed IRENA’s activities and agreed to work with the agency to map the renewable energy readiness of the region’s countries and territories to measure opportunities for implementation and identify pathways to close any gaps

“Limited land and water resources, the isolation of many communities and the high cost of polluting fossils have long been a barrier to the region’s economic growth,” said Henry Puna, prime minister of the Cook Islands. “At the same time our region includes some of the nations most threatened by climate change and environmental degradation. With IRENA as our partner we can liberate local innovation and industry, bring electricity and light to remote villages, and balance energy costs.”

In an opening address Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, president of the First IRENA Assembly, said this was one of the most important meetings IRENA would organize.

“This is your opportunity to openly share your ideas on what concrete, actionable and measurable activities IRENA can take in both the medium and short term in your countries,” he told the delegates. “Tangible progress in the Pacific Islands will demonstrate IRENA’s capability to support – through action – the acceleration, development and deployment of renewable energy technologies.”

Although the Pacific Region has some hydropower resources, 99 percent of the rest of the energy used for transportation and electricity comes from fossil fuels. Increased fuel prices have cost most Pacific Island countries and territories some 10 percent of their gross national income.