The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in partnership with the South African Ministry of Energy, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the South African Renewables Initiative, is convening a series of media workshops during the Durban Climate Change Conference, to inform journalists on key issues facing the renewable energy sector. The workshops will feature briefings by experts from the private sector, government, international organisations and news media. Experts will provide the latest information on investment trends in renewables, innovative financing solutions, and impacts of renewables on jobs and economic growth. Resource materials will bring together key facts and figures, and highlight opportunities for news reporting. The workshops will consist of of six two-hour sessions, exploring the following issues: Financing Renewables to Scale – Lessons from South Africa and Elsewhere (December 1, 10:00-12:00); Access to Energy – What Role for Renewable Energy? (December 5, 10:00-12:00); Energy Subsidies – How Much is Being Spent, and to What Effect? (December 5, 17:00-18:30); Barriers to Renewable Energy – What are They and How Can They Be Overcome? (December 6, 10:00-12:00); Unlocking the Door to a Green Economy – Renewable Energy, Job Creation and Economic Growth (December 7, 10:00-12:00); and Renewable Energy in Africa, organized by the South African Department of Energy (December 8, 10:00-12:00). Speakers include: Adnan Z Amin, Director-General, IRENA; George Mnguni, Deputy Director General, South African Department of Energy; Ogunlade Davidson, Minister of Energy, Sierra Leone; Philippe Benoit, Head of Energy Efficiency and Environment, International Energy Agency; Kirsty Hamilton, Fellow, Energy, Environment and Development Programme, Chatham House; Sakkie Leimecke, Lead Principal: Energy, Nedbank; and high-level government representatives. Journalists should register their interest by sending an email with name, affiliation, contact details, and workshop/s of interest to: mediaworkshops@irena.org.  

dates: 1-8 December 2011   location: Durban, South Africa   e-mail: mediaworkshops@irena.org   www: http://www.irena.org/News/Description.aspx?NType=NWS&PriMenuID=16&mnu=Pri&News_ID=161