13 January 2012: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) hosted the Pacific Leaders Meeting, a high-level meeting on facilitating renewable energy uptake in the Pacific Islands, immediately preceding the second session of the IRENA Assembly, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The event gathered Heads of State, Ministers, agency Directors, and other high-level members of government of 11 Pacific Island States to discuss the barriers, opportunities and pathways towards the acceleration of renewable energy uptake in the Pacific for purposes of human development and climate change mitigation. It took place as part of IRENA’s cooperation with Pacific Islands on renewables deployment, focusing on policy, capacity building and renewable energy uptake. Invitations were extended to leaders from Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The meeting resulted in the Abu Dhabi Communiqué on Accelerating Renewable Energy Uptake for the Pacific Islands, which recognizes the vast, underutilized potential for renewable energy in the Pacific region, outlines necessary steps to realize this potential, and in this light, agrees to work jointly to establish an enabling environment for renewables in the region. [IISD RS Summary of IRENA’s High-Level Pacific Leaders Meeting]