New Zealand should join the new International Renewable Energy Agency

January 26
For immediate release
United Nations Association – Wellington Branch

About 100 states will be meeting in Bonn tomorrow to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency, but New Zealand has not yet committed to being there.

“The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will assist countries to reduce the use of fossil fuels at the same time as developing their energy needs,” says Wellington United Nations Association Committee Member Alyn Ware who was one of the few non-governmental representatives invited to the founding conference. “International cooperation is vital in order to reverse climate change through utilising new renewable energy technologies,” says Mr Ware. “There are a range of technologies available each of which varies in suitability for countries’ differing resources, infrastructures, climates and geographies. IRENA would be able to assist countries to develop the right mix of renewable energy technologies for their country.”

“IRENA would also assist in overcoming import tariffs and technical barriers, identifying funding for renewable energy development, and improving renewable energy efficiencies through cross-fertilisation of best practices. There are already international agencies for assisting in the development and distribution of fossil fuels and in the development of nuclear energy. It is time to at least level the playing field for renewable energy technologies.”

“New Zealand has everything to gain from joining IRENA”, says Mr Ware, who last year met with officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Environment and Economic Development to promote the agency. “Not only could it provide expertise that could assist New Zealand in lowering its carbon footprint while maintaining a high standard of living, but it would also provide an opportunity for the New Zealand renewable energy sector to promote its technology internationally.”

“IRENA is also important to provide alternatives to nuclear energy, which is receiving renewed interest internationally due to climate change. Despite developments in nuclear reactor technology, nuclear energy still poses health and safety risks, uncertainty about how to store the radioactive waste for the tens of thousands of years required, and how to ensure that the materials and technology do not contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation.,” said Mr Ware.

Mr Ware is unable to attend the founding conference for family reasons, but is working with IRENA founder Dr Hermann Scheer, a member of the German parliament and Chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy, to build international support for the Agency from governments, parliamentarians and non-governmental organisations in which they both play leading roles.

ENDS

Background:
IRENA official website
Statement released at the IRENA Final Preparatory Conference in Madrid
Statute (Treaty) of the International Renewable Energy Agency
Nuclear Energy: The answer to Climate Change or a recipe for weapons proliferation? Dr Herman Scheer and Alyn Ware
Letter from Dr Scheer to the 600 parliamentarians who are members of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) - including Dr Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment and Chair of the New Zealand Section of PNND, and Keith Locke, Secretary of the New Zealand Section of PNND.

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