Way to promote clean energy

As the world spent huge initial investments on mobile phone networks which improved the life of millions, the same strategy can promote renewable energy for a clean environment and better living standards, according to Adnan Z Ameen, Director-General of Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). Setting up mobile telephone networks has huge initial investments but they have empowered the poor people in developing countries, he told Gulf News in an interview, citing several examples. A farmer in Kenya uses his mobile phone to know the market prices of his crop and transfer money to somebody living faraway, he said. Penetration of mobile telephony has transformed the lives of so many, he said. "If you see its application in Asia, Africa, and Latin America it is amazing." Africa has 600 million mobile telephone users; that is more than the whole of Europe, he said. Africa has developed a new model using mobile phones for market purposes — transferring money and accessing market prices of products etc., Ameen said. Similar benefits The initial investments on mobile networks benefited the whole population in this way and the same can be done in the case of renewable energy projects, he said. Renewable energy projects have mostly one time initial investment with less maintenance or operational costs, the official said. But like the mobile phone networks, renewable energy projects can also help the vast majority of the population, he said. According to the United Nations, more than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, approximately 3 billion people rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating and up to a billion more have access only to unreliable electricity networks. The "energy-poor" suffer economic consequences of insufficient power for productive income generating activities and for other basic services such as health and education. Air pollution Burning traditional biomass in rural areas causes indoor air pollution which affect health of millions, he pointed out. The pollution caused by fossil fuels also contributes to health problems and climate change, Ameen said. The renewable energy can solve all those problems, he said. Considering the benefits, the world should not bother about initial investments on renewable energy projects, the Irena chief said. He had earlier said that people should be made aware of the real cost of the polluting fuels they are using in daily life. Neither the user nor the producers are bearing the cost of the fossil fuels because they are treated as the externalities in the economic system, Ameen had said. The world governments give subsidies of more than $500 billion (Dh1.8 trillion) annually to fossil fuels which cause 60 per cent of green house gas emissions, he pointed out. That's why fossil fuel looks cheaper, he said. Irena Assembly begins on Saturday The second session of the assembly of International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) beginning today in Abu Dhabi and participated by 149 members, including European Union, will decide the strategic direction of the organisation, Adnan Z Ameen, Director-General of Irena, told Gulf News. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, will make special address to the assembly. Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, President of the First Irena Assembly and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, UAE, will inaugurate the assembly. Ahead of the assembly, Irena organised a Pacific Leaders' Meeting yesterday (Friday) in Abu Dhabi. It discussed the measures to promote renewable energy in pacific island nations. The Irena Assembly will attract more than 800 of the most influential voices in renewable energy.