As the time for voting on the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) headquarters approaches (June 29), the contest has boiled down to a hot race between the UAE and Germany, which wants the city of Bonn to host the new agency.
Read in-depth report on Irena
It seems though that in its efforts to exclude the UAE and the developing world from the race to host a prestigious agency, German NGOs don't mind using all the weapons at their disposal, including silly and baseless claims.
They allege that the UAE's record in human rights, the empowerment of women and foreign policy among others, is such that the Arab country does not have the right to host an important international organisation.
The UAE doesn't seem to want to denigrate the race to this level of argument. But it is worthwhile to argue with the Germans using their own logic, by which they have been campaigning for years to get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
How can Germany seek a bigger role in this changing world and at the same time deny the right of the UAE to seek similar recognition?
The latter has not come out of the blue, but is supported by years of tireless efforts and achievements which prove that the concept of renewable energy is both viable and vital and can curb the catastrophic impact of the dependence on carbon.
Germany is shooting itself in the foot by dismissing a successful emerging economy and discrediting a developed state that has given the world a shining example of cultural and religious co-existence.
