17 January 2013: The Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC) convened government, business, and civil society representatives from more than 150 countries to discuss the future of innovation and finance for renewable energy. The conference was hosted by the Sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES) from 15-17 January, 2013, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Ministerial panels covered a range of topics, including the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainability Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, national frameworks for renewable energy, the water-energy nexus, and renewable energy in the context of an evolving global energy market.

Additional panels covered the roles of public and private sector finance in scaling-up renewable energy, and perspectives from chief executive officers of utilities and renewable energy companies. The conference also held discussions on the future of energy innovation, including innovation in technology, policy and legal frameworks, financial instruments, and mindsets in support of renewable energy development and deployment.

A number of countries and international organizations organized side events at the conference, such as the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement for Renewable Technology Deployment (IEA-RETD) and Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).

ADIREC was the fifth IREC convened by REN21 for the purpose of advancing renewable energy by providing a joint-forum for governments, the private sector, and civil society. It took place as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which consisted of the First Energy Meeting of the Arab League and South American Energy Ministers, the Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference 2013 (ADIREC), the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), the Zayed Future Energy Prize Awards Ceremony, and the International Water Summit 2013. [ADIREC 2013 Programme] [ADIREC 2013 Side Events] [WFES 2013] [Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2013]