Ecoship attends gathering of leaders in renewable energy
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From 14 to 15 January, the seventh session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) gathered government officials from over 150 countries, and representatives from the private sector, civil society and other international organizations. As IRENA’s ultimate decision-making authority, the Assembly brings together the international community to reaffirm the global renewable energy agenda and make concrete steps to accelerate the global energy transition. Peace Boat took part in this event to learn about the latest developments in the renewable energy sector. The international NGO is developing the Ecoship, a milestone in ship’s efficiency that is fully applicable to the rest of the industry.
The IRENA conference took place at the St. Regis Saadiyat Hotel in Abu Dhabi, with a day of preliminary meetings and discussions on 13 January. The Assembly focused on the critical role of renewable energy in combating climate change, expanding energy access and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Peace Boat is a committed campaigner for the SDGs, also known as the Global Goals. The Ecoship will be a flagship for the Global Goals, a universal call to action towards ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
“Renewables are gaining ground by nearly every measure. Accelerating the pace of the energy transition and expanding its scope beyond the power sector will not only reduce carbon emissions, it will improve lives, create jobs, achieve development goals, and ensure a cleaner and more prosperous future,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.
During the conference, H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, insisted on the need to accelerate a global energy transition to cleaner, renewable sources. “We need to roll out education programmes to raise awareness of the importance of renewable energy, and to shape consumer behavior”, he pointed out. He also talked about the importance of raising public awareness and visibility of the SDGs. “As President of the General Assembly, I am committed to driving a universal push for meaningful progress in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and to ensuring that issues relating to affordable and clean energy and climate change remain high on the global agenda”, he told the audience.
The IRENA Assembly featured a number of strategic and programmatic discussions around central themes of the Agency’s work and mandate. The discussions promoted an exchange of information and best practices among members and experts in support of efforts to increase the uptake of renewable energy. With the Ecoship project, Peace Boat aims to advance the global renewable energy agenda and make concrete steps to accelerate the global energy transformation.