国際再生可能エネルギー機関（IRENA）
第3回総会（1月14日正午～）
議題22（2013年作業計画予算）における城内政務官の発言
平成25年1月14日
Introduction
Thank you, Chair.
As this is my first intervention in the Assembly, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Chair, Mr. Martin Lidegaard, and Mr. Adnan Amin for organizing this meeting. Also, my gratitude goes to the host country, the United Arab Emirates.
The accelerated adoption and use of renewable energy is a pressing challenge for Japan, in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
On a global basis as well, deployment of renewable energy has huge significance not only for enhancing energy security, but also for achieving low carbon growth and improving access to energy globally.
Considering such importance of renewable energy, Japan has for the past years provided some 2.6 billion US Dollars in assisting developing countries to promote deployment of renewable energy. At Rio+20 Conference held in June last year, the Japanese government expressed its intention to provide 3 billion US Dollars in support of developing countries over the next three years.
Expectation towards IRENA
Then I would like to touch upon our expectation to IRENA.
Mr. Chair and Distinguished delegates,
IRENA is at the center of global cooperation to promote renewable energy. We strongly hope that this young organization will grow and make valuable contribution to us and the rest of the international community.
Where to? Here are our four suggestions.
- First, we suggest that IRENA will enhance its ability, among others, in data collection and analysis, through close cooperation with other related organizations.
- Second, IRENA will not descend into an inefficient body, but stay as a compact and effective organization.
- Third, IRENA will continue to support the widespread and increased deployment of renewable energy in Africa and Pacific islands, and will devote more efforts for the capacity-building in Asian countries.
- Fourth, IRENA will continue to provide its support to the reconstruction in the quake affected areas in Japan, through sharing its expertise.
Japan's Cooperation to IRENA
Mr. Chair and Distinguished delegates,
Japan's four concerned Ministries have put their efforts together and supported IRENA, in assisting IRENA's various activities as well as supporting the management of the agency.
In May 2012, Japan and IRENA co-hosted a joint workshop on accelerating renewable energy deployment in the Pacific region for the Pacific island countries. In March, Dr. Ghielen of IRENA Secretariat also participated in the international seminar on smart community held in Fukushima in the context of assisting reconstruction of the quake hit areas.
Furthermore, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IRENA on cooperation for capacity building.
In the context of the management of the Agency, Japan has strived forward to contribute to it greatly as well. In 2013, we are committed to continue to provide strong support.
For instance, taking advantage of the opportunity of the Fifth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICADV) held in Japan this June, Japan is intended to support IRENA's efforts for promoting renewable energy in Africa. The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Science (JIRCAS) will strengthen collaboration with IRENA on use of biomass energy.
Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that Japan is ready to provide voluntary contribution to several key activities of IRENA, namely, the launch of IRENA's first institutional publication, development of Global Renewable Energy Roadmap 2030, technology roadmap on electricity storage, as well as Renewable Readiness Assessments on developing countries in Asia.
Lastly, Japan is determined to redouble efforts for the evolution of IRENA as well in coming years.
Thank you for your attention.