The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has signed an agreement with the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) to strengthen their collaborative approach and scale up renewable energy deployment in the MENA region.
The MoU was signed by IRENA director-general Francesco La Camera and RCREEE executive director Dr Jauad El Kharraz, on the sidelines of the ‘MENA Europe Future Energy Dialogue’ in Jordan.
IRENA charts long-term growth of sustainable economic growth
Under the terms of the agreement, IRENA and RECREEE will partner on regional dialogues and initiatives that address the challenges, needs, and opportunities of a renewables-based energy transition in MENA countries. The agencies will also share knowledge and cooperate on building capacity in MENA countries, particularly through enabling policy and regulatory frameworks that can accelerate renewable energy adoption.
Commenting on the agreement, La Camera said: “The energy transition offers a must-seize opportunity for the MENA region. By taking advantage of abundant renewable energy resources, countries in the region, many of which are highly dependent on fossil fuels, can future proof their economies and chart a long-term path of sustainable economic growth for future generations.”
The agreement renews an existing MoU signed by the two organisations in 2015. According to a statement released by IRENA, the partners have been working closely on multiple joint initiatives, most notably on the Pan-Arab Clean Energy Initiative (PACE) which identified a series of actions to increase renewable energy investments in the region.
Dr El Kharraz added: “Energy efficiency together with deployment of renewable energies will be key to address the climate change.
“The MENA region, thanks to its geographic position, can play a key role in the energy transition process. It is thus of utmost importance to cooperate in order to lead the region into a sustainable future, starting from the reinforcement of the regional cooperation.”
Through the new agreement, the agencies will introduce new areas of cooperation and adapt existing collaborative activities to recent challenges facing the development of renewable energy in the region.