Europe has much to gain from role in developing renewables

Green Party Senator and Dublin candidate for the European elections, Deirdre de Burca has called for a European counterpart to the new international renewables agency to be set up. Today in Bonn, Germany, on the initiative of the German, Spanish and Danish governments, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was launched to promote transition to the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy.

Senator de Burca said: “The launch of this new international agency is a vitally important step forward to improve know-how and uptake of renewable energies across the globe. IRENA will be instrumental in reducing barriers to investment in renewables.

“Europe has everything to gain from playing an active role internationally to develop renewables. This will help to drive renewables to the top of its own energy mix, delivering greater energy independence and creating jobs at a time when both are urgently needed.

“The Green Party has long called for a European renewables community and a study last year set out the feasibility and clear benefits. Europe had a coal and steel community for 50 years and its nuclear agency Euratom has existed for over half a century. It is high time for the EU to make a clean break from dirty and dangerous energy, to follow the lead of IRENA and to create a European agency for enhanced cooperation on renewables. A European agency would catalyse the development of renewables and help to tap their vast potential for generating both energy and employment,” Senator de Burca concluded.

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Press Release by Deirdre