New IRENA Director-General Welcomed by UAE Minister of Climate Change Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi

IRENA’s host country, the UAE, offers full support for new leadership

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 4 April 2019 – Mr. Francesco La Camera, the new Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), received the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi today for a high-level meeting at the IRENA headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Al Zeyoudi was accompanied by the UAE’s Permanent Representative to IRENA, Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany.

Marking Mr. La Camera’s first day in office, Dr. Al Zeyoudi took the opportunity to welcome Mr. La Camera to the UAE and congratulated him on his appointment as the head of the 160-member strong Agency. Dr. Al Zeyoudi offered the UAE’s full and unwavering support for IRENA and its global mandate - to support countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.

With renewables increasingly recognised as a solution to several global challenges including climate change and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Mr. La Camera and Dr. Al Zeyoudi discussed ways to strengthen existing efforts and new opportunities to advance the deployment of renewable energy – both nationally and globally.

Mr. La Camera commended the UAE’s efforts and achievements in the context of sustainable development and acknowledged the country’s strong ambition and the vision of its leadership. By 2050, the UAE plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent, improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent and generate 44 per cent of its power from renewable energy.