Abu Dhabi: Representatives from 151 nations from across the world expressed their confidence on Saturday to double the shares of renewable energy by 2030, which will help check climate change, improve health of world population and create millions of jobs.
International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) presented Remap 2030, the first-ever global road map for doubling the share of renewables, at its fourth Assembly in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
The road map findings suggest that “compared to energy systems based on fossil fuel, renewable energy offers broader participation, is better for our health, creates more jobs and provides an effective route to reducing carbon emission — a goal that becomes increasingly urgent by the day,” Adnan Z. Amin, Director General of Irena, said at the opening session of the assembly.
“5.7 million people around the world are currently employed in the renewable energy sector and this number is expected to grow,” Amin said.
Energy sector produces around 65 per cent of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause climate change, according to International Energy Agency.
Remap also highlights that technology already exists to double the share of renewables by 2030 and even surpass it and that the transition can be cost neutral, he said.
It is an unprecedented international effort that brings together the work of 82 national experts from 42 countries, Amin said.
Remap, which was presented at the assembly on Saturday, would be formally launched on Sunday evening and would be available to download starting Monday morning.
The UAE, which hosts Irena and its assembly, announced a concrete project to support this global transition.
“I am pleased to announce that on Sunday Irena and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will offer a soft loan of $41 million (Dh150.59 million), for projects proposed by countries that have passed the agency’s set standards,” Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of State and CEO of Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, said at the opening session on Saturday. The first phase of loans will go towards the first six renewable energy projects in developing countries.
“This step represents the first instalment of concessional financing worth a total of $350 million ... which is committed by the UAE to promote the establishment of renewable energy projects in developing countries,” he said.
