UAE | Environment
Irena delegations working overtime
UAE and German officials were lobbying delegates until the very last minute on Sunday in an effort to gather support for their bid to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
- By Abbas Al Lawati, Reporter
- Published: 23:13 June 28, 2009
- Irena aims to provide support to renewable energy applications in countries around the world.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Sharm Al Shaikh: UAE and German officials were lobbying delegates until the very last minute on Sunday in an effort to gather support for their bid to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
Teams headed by Minister for Foreign Trade Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State Reem Al Hashimi and Masdar CEO Sultan Al Jaber were meeting foreign diplomats and delegates throughout the day in an effort to swing the vote their way.
Read in-depth report on Irena
Member states of Irena will on Monday select a temporary home for the body - which could eventually become permanent.
While members of the UAE delegation have been tight-lipped about their lobbying efforts, a source close to the delegation said that they are leaving no stone unturned.
It is understood that some Emirati delegates from the foreign ministry and Masdar were also following up with foreign officials they are confident will vote for them to ensure that they have the right credentials and are aware of the procedures.
Egyptian foreign ministry officials have said that a lack of correct documents and credentials will disqualify delegates from voting.
Meanwhile, members of the German delegation headed by Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel have acknowledged that the UAE's fierce campaigning and lobbying efforts mean that Abu Dhabi stands a good chance of winning.
There are indications that the 40-strong German delegation did not expect the UAE to gather so much support so fast. Some delegates from African countries who spoke to Gulf News said they had been approached by Emirati delegations, but not German ones.
"We have wanted the Irena seat in Bonn for two years. No one was talking about Abu Dhabi's bid until recently," said Hermann Scheer, a German member of the Bundestag (parliament) and member of the German delegation.
The German delegation has, however, redoubled its lobbying efforts. Its members have been seen whisking away foreign delegates into meetings to make their case.
Despite the UAE's seemingly superior campaigning techniques, Emirati delegates here are careful not to be seen as overconfident.
An official from the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs told Gulf News that despite assurances of support, the UAE could not be sure which states would vote for it. "It's a secret ballot. Some might give us assurances and vote for someone else," he said.
Preparatory Commission: Agency's role on agenda
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, heads the UAE delegation to the Preparatory Commission for the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) onMonday. The preparatory commission will select the host of the Irena headquarters and the agency's director general.
The UAE, Germany and Austria applied to host Irena's headquarters, while French, Spanish, Danish and Greek applicants are competing for the position of the agency's general manager.
Dr Hassan Younes, Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy, who will chair the commission's meetings, said it will discuss the agency's role, which is providing support to renewable energy applications and helping countries benefit from active development and the exchange of expertise and technological knowledge.
He said the agency will analyse current practices in the field of renewable energy to determine which factors contribute to success, without imposing any obligations on members and countries.
WAM
Your comments
I agree with Mr. Philipp Niessen that Germany has long experience in Renewable energy Industry.However,if the IRENA HQ will be in UAE ,it will push UAE and other middleastern countries to adopt this environmentt friendly energy source. Why we should all organisation HQ be in Europe and America. I believe UAE is working very hard with a long ambitious plan to put Renewable in the first row as alternative energy source.
Yousuf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2009, 14:13
From the perspective of hosting an international organisation, I can support UAE's bid.
However, UAE has does just not deserve an agency for renewable energies. Germany has been leading the fight for renewables for the last 20 years, setting standards like the solar feed in which is copied in the whole world now, most of the big solar and wind companies were built up from scratch in Germany, Germany was the first country to have a substantial green party since the 1980s and Germany was the first major country to say Goodbye to nuclear energies. What has UAE done compared to his? In contrary, UAE has kept up its oil production without any substantial grass-root green developments. It seems to be another Dubai style marketing campaign.
Who's idea was it to even start IRENA?
UAE does just not deserve this one and the world should acknowledge Germany's effort by choosing Bonn.
renewables for the last 20 years, most of the big solar and wind companies were built up from scratch in Germany, most
Philipp Niessen
Brussels,Belgium
Posted: June 29, 2009, 12:33
it would be wondeful if Irena's headquarters going to be in UAE. Our fingers are kept closed amd lets hope we are going to get it.
Nazeer Kunchali
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2009, 11:57
Irena's headquarters has to be in UAE.
We know that there are many organisation's Head Quarters scattered in many parts of the world.
So my question here is "is there any organisation's Head Office in anywhere in the Middle East, in the Gulf , African or even Asian? And if so, please educate me.
Selecting Irena's Headquarters for UAE will not only serve the world perfectly due to its geographical location and cosmopolitan life style but also will facilitate with this "Renewable Energy" to Africa and Asia continents where the most of world population lives.
I am here to vote for UAE and not because I am living in UAE but because the country is eligible to host this venue!
Zahra J. Saleh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2009, 09:04
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