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Canada Set to join International Renewable Energy Agency
OTTAWA, May 24, 2018 A world leader in the production and use of renewable energy, Canada believes in the power of international partnership to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy and improve Canadians’ access to this $1-trillion clean tech market.
Speaking today at the ninth Clean Energy Ministerial in Copenhagen, Kim Rudd, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, announced that Canada is set to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) — the world’s largest intergovernmental organization driving the deployment of sustainable renewable energy.
Rudd also announced that Canada will host the 10th annual Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM10) and 4th annual Mission Innovation (MI4) in Vancouver, British Columbia, the week of May 27, 2019.
To set the stage for CEM/MI 2019, Canada will contribute $1 million to the CEM Secretariat to support its continued work and efforts to advance clean energy globally. PS Rudd attended this year’s CEM/MI Ministerial, which was co-hosted by the Nordic countries and the European Commission.
CEM and MI are global forums to advance the development and deployment of affordable clean energy, technology and innovation worldwide. They bring together energy ministers from approximately 24 member countries and the European Union, and provide a robust stage to accelerate global clean energy innovation and uptake.
Rudd also announced Canada’s participation in the following initiatives and campaigns:
- Smart Energy Challenge: A Canada–U.K.-led initiative to support breakthrough projects in smart grid and energy storage adoption designed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, whereby Canada will contribute $10 million and the U.K. up to £6 million, totaling just over $20 million.
- Clean Energy Education and Empowerment “Equal by 30” Campaign: A Canadian–Swedish effort to advance gender equality and encourage governments and the private sector to sign on to the principles of “equal pay, equal opportunity, equal leadership by 2030.”
- Nuclear Innovation–Clean Energy Future: An initiative led by Canada, the United States and Japan to bring nuclear to broader low-carbon energy discussions, including a focus on innovative applications such as nuclear–renewable hybrid energy systems and small modular reactors.
- Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS): A 10-country initiative to accelerate the use of CCUS technologies and increase commercialization and market opportunities for products derived from CO2.
- Global EV Pilot Cities Program: A global initiative to provide opportunities for cities to showcase their leading EV activities in a global context. To date, seven Canadian cities have joined this international network: Surrey and Richmond, B.C.; Calgary, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Montreal, Quebec; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Stratford, P.E.I.
- Power System Flexibility Campaign: a global effort to bring more renewable energy into a smarter grid.
As a member country of IRENA , Canada will benefit from increased awareness of renewables’ potential; the challenges and opportunities associated with the large-scale penetration of renewables in all regions of Canada; international trade opportunities for Canadian clean tech companies; and international recognition of Canada’s leadership role in renewable energy.
“Canada and IRENA have the shared objectives of promoting the widespread deployment and sustainable use of renewable energy.”
Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
Quick Facts
- Clean energy offers as much as a $1-trillion global investment opportunity per year to 2050.
- Over two-thirds of Canada’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources, and solar and wind are the fastest-growing sources of electricity in the country.
- IRENA is an inter-governmental treaty organization mandated to promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.
Since IRENA’s creation in 2011, Canada has participated in several joint studies, reports and international events on a number of topical issues facing the further deployment of renewables.
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