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Energies renouvelables, environnement-écologie, développement...
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is officially born
août 2009
ADIT
     The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was officially established in Bonn on 26 January 2009. To date, 136 States signed the Statute of the Agency; amongst them are 45 African, 36 European, 32 Asian, 14 American and 9 Australia/Oceania States.
     Mandated by these governments worldwide, IRENA aspires to become the main driving force for promoting a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale.
http://www.irena.org/

29 June 2009

Ms. Hélène Pelosse (France) becomes Interim Director-General

     The Preparatory Commission designated Ms. Hélène Pelosse as the first head of the emerging Agency during its second session in Sharm El Sheikh on 29 June 2009.
     Four candidates with outstanding profiles and strong backgrounds in the field of renewable energy were nominated by the Member States for the position. After a close and fair election, the French candidate Ms. Pelosse was appointed by the Signatories as the first Interim Director-General of IRENA.
     Ms. Pelosse is currently Deputy Head of Staff in the Private Office of the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development, and Town and Country
     Planning in charge of international affairs. She also managed the French negotiations for the EU's Climate and Energy package, focusing in particular on the Renewable Energy Directive, and was responsible for designing the Renewable Energy Plan for France. Moreover, she took part in several international climate negotiations and has been intimately engaged with international organisations in the field of energy during her career (e.g. IEA, UNEP, UNDP).
     Ms. Pelosse has established a long record of outstanding experience and profound knowledge of the renewable sector as well as strong communication and representation skills. Her unique expertise provides IRENA with the ideal conditions to continue its promising start and to make IRENA a driving force for a new global energy paradigm that suits the needs of the 21st century.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/

IRENA Will Not Support Nuclear Energy, Says Chief
(Reuters)
30 July 2009

DUBAI — The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will not back programmes to develop nuclear energy due to the waste it produces and the risks it presents, its top official said on Wednesday.
     Newly-created IRENA's headquarters will be in the UAE, where the government wants to develop a $40 billion nuclear energy programme. 

suite:
     "IRENA will not support nuclear energy programmes because it's a long complicated process, it produces waste and is relatively risky," Helene Pelosse, director-general of IRENA, told Reuters in a telephone interview from the French Alps.
     IRENA, founded in January and now with 136 member countries, is aimed at supporting global development of renewable energy.
     The governments of Gulf Arab countries have all expressed interest in developing nuclear power, leading to concern among analysts that a regional arms race would develop with Iran.
     "Renewable energy is a better alternative and a faster, less expensive alternative, especially with countries blessed with so much sun for solar plants," Pelosse said.
     Last month, members of IRENA voted for the headquarters of the agency to be located in Abu Dhabi. "I think being in the UAE is a strong positive symbol and message to the world that even oil producing nations are looking at renewable energy," Pelosse said.
     The UAE and its Gulf oil-exporting neighbours are among the highest per capita carbon dioxide emitters in the world, according to statistics from the United Nations Development Programme.
     The UAE is third on the list, after Qatar and Kuwait.
     "The UAE is aware of its large carbon footprint and is trying to improve on that," she said.
     The UAE has set itself a target of producing 7 per cent of its power from renewables by 2020.
     The government of Abu Dhabi has committed $16 billion to an initiative to produce renewable and sustainable energy, known as Masdar.
     The initiative includes a plan to develop a green town in the desert, called Masdar City.
     IRENA's headquarters would be in Masdar City and should be built by 2011, Pelosse said. Until then, it would be based in Abu Dhabi.
     To jump start the agency's operations, the UAE said it would inject $136 million in funding by 2015.
     "We are also looking at financing support from other oil producing nations in the region in addition to financial agencies such as the World Bank," said Pelosse.
— Reuters

     Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy and the world's biggest oil exporter, is not a member of IRENA. Pelosse declined to comment on the reasons why the kingdom has not joined. 
     "I think that all oil producers don't have any choice," she said. "They have to look into renewable energy options because the oil will run out."