Abu Dhabi, UAE: Canada officially announced January 9 that it had become a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The announcement makes Canada the 160th member of the global intergovernmental organization dedicated to the widespread adoption of renewable energy.
IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, providing a platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence and a repository of policy, technology and resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
IRENA’s new Director-General Francesco La Camera, top, who will replace current DG Adnan Z. Amin on 4 April 2019. Credits: IRENA
Canada’s membership comes on the eve of IRENA’s ninth and largest Assembly. More than 120 ministers are expected to join 1,200 delegates from 150 countries in Abu Dhabi, to accelerate the deployment of sustainable sources of energy.
“The growing green economy is among the greatest economic opportunities for Canada in a generation,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources. “Becoming an IRENA member will accelerate Canada’s efforts to build a clean energy future which will bring new economic growth and thousands of new, well-paying jobs.”
Renewable energy accounts for two-thirds of Canada’s power generation and just under 20 per cent of its total final energy supply thanks largely to significant hydropower resources, which make it the second largest producer of hydropower in the world. Renewable power generation in Canada increased from 78 gigawatts in 2009 to 99 GW in 2017. In addition to plentiful hydro resources, Canada also has significant wind, biomass, solar, marine and geothermal energy potential. For example, today, wind accounts for 5 per cent of electricity generation in Canada.