8 February 2013: The February 2013 edition of the newsletter of the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) highlights the launch of the REN21 Renewables Global Futures Report (GFR) and the Executive Summary of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Status Report, while also reporting on activities from REN21 partner organizations.

Both the GFR and the Executive Summary of the MENA Status Report were presented during the Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC) in January 2012. The GFR outlines possibilities of the future of renewable energy based on input from 170 leading experts and 50 published scenarios. The MENA report provides an overview of renewable energy activities and investment opportunities in the region. The newsletter also notes that, at ADIREC, ministers from more than 160 countries signed a declaration to double the global share of renewable energy by 2030.

The newsletter further highlights: the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Steering Group’s call for input on the Global Tracking Framework; new reports from the UN Development Programme on feed-in tariffs projects in 15 developing countries, and the impact of public instrument packages to scale-up renewable energy; the Southeast Asia Knowledge Network of Climate Change Offices’ second phase; the Alliance for Rural Electrification’s (ARE) Small Wind Campaign; the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership’s (REEEP) funding of 28 projects to increase energy access and clean energy entrepreneurship in 19 countries; and upcoming meetings and events. [Publication: REN21 Newsletter February 2013]