Launch of coalition to bolster public support for renewable energy
I attended the 4th annual assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi today. IRENA is a relatively new international organisation seeking to promote and encourage the use of renewable energy technology but it already is a big hitter, with today’s meeting attended by Heads of State and Ministers from 150 countries plus 120 international organisations. Practical Action was there today to join in the launch of an initiative it is a co-founder of that will promote renewable energy to the general public around the world. This much needed initiative will aim to counter some of the myths and untruths that are recycled by the media and others about the supposed inefficicency, costs or dangers of renewables; myths that are holding back investment in this area.
Zayed Future Energy Prize
But that was not the only reason I and a couple of colleagues are here this week. Practical Action has been nominated as one of 3 finalists in the NGO category of the prestigious Zayed Future Energy Prize (see here for more about the competetion and the full list of finalists across all categories). We are here as the guests of the competition organisers for the awards ceremony tomorrow and to attend the World Future Energy Summit Conference for the following 2 days. Practical Action has been nominated for the prize as a result of its work on energy access over the past 40 or so years and I am sure there will be some nail biting by me tomorrow night as we attend the awards ceremony and hear which one of the 3 finalists is the eventual winner.
