22 February 2012: Adnan Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), has published a piece titled “Powering the Green Economy” in a special edition of Our Planet, which emphasizes that the development and use of renewable energy technologies can assist in placing the globe on a sustainable, clean energy pathway.

Amin highlights that renewable energy can assist not only job creation, but also ensure Western economies do not sink into long-term recessions. He stresses that renewable energies can assist in improving the lives of those in rural areas, particularly for those households in Africa. He notes that increasing the share of renewable energy in a country’s energy supply mix also contributes to ensuring long-term energy security, which is of increasing concern for countries currently dependent on fossil fuels.

Lamenting that renewable energy uptake has been limited by, among other things, a lack of technical and administrative knowledge, he outlines initiatives undertaken by IRENA to further renewable energy deployment, including Renewable Readiness Assessments in Africa and the development of indicators and information sharing platforms such as the Global Solar and Wind Atlas. [Publication: Powering the Green Economy]