Canada Wins Two-Year Term on International Renewable Energy Agency Council
Today Seamus O’Regan Jr., Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, announced that Canada has been voted in as an official Member of Council for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Announced at the 11th session of the IRENA Assembly, Canada will serve a two-year term on the Council, helping to ensure cooperation and facilitating discussions on the global clean energy future among the 163 member countries.
Reflecting this year’s Assembly theme, COVID-19 – Energy Transition, Minister O’Regan underlined the importance of a net-zero carbon economy as the world recovers from the pandemic. He noted that a clean energy transition will help us meet an urgent climate crisis, as well as help grow our global economy while creating sustainable jobs for generations to come.
Minister O’Regan also highlighted that renewables are a cornerstone in the government’s plan to meet Canada’s climate change commitments. This echoes Canada’s new $15-billion strengthened climate plan that includes an ambitious agenda to support renewable energy sources like wind, tidal and solar. The plan includes additional investments of $964 million over four years to advance smart renewable energy and grid modernization projects, as well as an additional $300 million to transition rural, remote and Indigenous communities that currently rely on diesel to clean, reliable energy.
During the four-day Assembly, Minister O’Regan also announced that Canada and IRENA are joining forces to help transition remote communities to renewable energy sources. Canada will share lessons learned and feedback from Indigenous communities from our domestic Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program for the development of a new initiative.
As underlined in Canada’s strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, Canada is a willing and active partner on the international stage and remains committed to working with global partners to transition to an inclusive, net-zero future.
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