IRENA and SIDS DOCK Sign Agreement to Reinforce Small Island Climate Resilience

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The cooperation aims at taking concrete steps to build low-carbon, climate-resilient and prosperous SIDS economies.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 5, 2020 - The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Small Island Developing States Sustainable Energy and Climate Resilience Organisation (SIDS DOCK), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce joint actions that accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions, to build energy security and support climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS).

Under the agreement, IRENA and SIDS DOCK will co-develop policy frameworks, exchange knowledge, and engage in capacity building, project facilitation and project finance, while promoting cooperation between developing countries. The exploration and identification of marine energy potential will be a priority area of the cooperation and steps will be taken to build capacities and share knowledge on ocean technology.

The MoU was signed in by Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, and His Excellency Ambassador Ronald J. Jumeau, Chair of the SIDS DOCK Executive Council and Permanent Representative of the Seychelles to the United Nations.

His Excellency Mr. Ronald J. Jumeau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Nations (UN) and Chair of the SIDS DOCK Executive Council, said: “The intention is to jointly collaborate on information sharing, resource mobilisation, support with project development and policy frameworks, and global and regional initiatives to help small islands meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 7, and meeting their commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement and their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).”

IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “Small islands possess abundant renewable energy resources including solar, wind and ocean energy. These resources can play a significant role in building more robust, resilient and sustainable economies on small islands and will be the foundation of sustainable development.”

“This agreement is yet another example of IRENA’s steadfast commitment to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon energy system in SIDS. The Agency will mobilise its full capabilities to support this transformation," he added.

According to the MoU, IRENA – the lead intergovernmental organisation for the energy transformation, and SIDS DOCK, will work closely across a number of key implementation focus areas, including:

  • Facilitate knowledge sharing through development of databases and knowledge-sharing platforms;
  • Support with the assessments, roadmaps, and implementation of national and regional energy policies;
  • SIDS DOCK to support IRENA’s SIDS Lighthouses Initiative and Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) initiatives;
  • Facilitate and support the establishment of the SIDS DOCK Island Women Open Network (IWON) Sustainable Energy Financing Facility;
  • Support SIDS in the assessment of opportunities which attract financing for renewable technologies for waste to energy and desalination;
  • Support the Climate Investment Platform (CIP) initiative to accelerate investments in renewable energy and improve access to finance.

The agreement will also see the two parties cooperate to strengthen the professional capacities of the SIDS regional energy centres and exchanging knowledge on renewable energy deployment in SIDS.

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