H.E. Ambassador ‘Akau’ola presents Credentials to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) ^Featured

H.E. Francesco La Camera, welcomed the Ambassador and accompanying delegation as the first Resident Permanent Representative for the Kingdom of Tonga to IRENA and looked forward to continuing the close working relationship with the Kingdom as well as the other Pacific Island Countries.

IRENA since its formation has been active in assisting the Pacific Island Countries and through the United Arab Emirates Government support, held the first Pacific Leaders Energy Summit in the Kingdom, which garnered major support from a number of the Pacific Leading Development Partners.

The International Renewable Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.

IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

Ambassador ‘Akau’ola, not a stranger to IRENA, having served as Tonga’s Council Member for a number of years as well as Vice-President of the Preparatory Commission and Chair of the Governance and Legal Committee, conveyed His Majesty’s Government of the Kingdom of Tonga’s compliments to IRENA and all its Member States.

A number of issues were discussed including the “Climate Crisis” declared at the recent Forum Leaders Meeting in Tuvalu, the greater participation by Private Sector in accelerating Renewable Energy implementation especially in the Pacific and also the opportunities EXPO 2020 to be held in Dubai could provide as a platform for the Pacific to garner greater global support in the Kingdom’s policy to reduce reliance on fossil fuel.

The upcoming IRENA General Assembly in January 2020, followed by the World Future Energy Summit was also discussed and the Director General looked forward to the Ambassador’s active participation as Permanent Representative.