2010-01-11 16:32:45
WAM Abu Dhabi, Jan 11th, 2010 (WAM) - HE Ms Helene Pelosse, Interim Director-General of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), has lauded the efforts of General Women's Union, under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, to empower UAE women and expand their participation in areas of economic, social and environmental significance.

Speaking at a Symposium on ''Women and Renewable Energy : Future Alternatives '' in Abu Dhabi, she said that " I would like to congratulate the General Women's Union on its effort, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima, to empower UAE women and expand their participation in areas of economic, social and environmental significance. Today gives me the great opportunity to talk to you about a common thread that weaves through these three areas -renewable energy and the important role of women in its adoption".

The event was hosted by the GWU under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima.

She further said: "It also gives me the opportunity to tell you a story. It is a story that spans two generations; it is also about a dream that spans two generations. I would like to share with you a picture, it was taken in 1962. There is only one woman in this picture; she's part of the Governing Council in a city in France. She studied physics, raised nine children and was active in politics, and she was an ecologist before anybody knew about green political parties".

She was not unlike the Founding Father Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan, whose love of nature and concern for conservation is legendary, she remarked.

She illustrated another picture and said: "the place where we stand together today. It is 1962 in Abu Dhabi. It is the year that Abu Dhabi starts to export oil and triggers an incredible era of growth and development for this small state that continues today".

Then she pointed out some other pictures and said that in June 2009 - almost two generations later, Abu Dhabi won the right to host the IRENA Headquarters. At the same time the woman in the picture of 1962 passed away at the age of 96 - just after I was elected Director-General of IRENA. The news reached me when I was still in Sharm El Sheick. "She was my grandmother", she added.

Between those pictures there are two generations, she explained two generations to move from oil to Renewable Energy, Two generations to change a Vision, Two generations for the granddaughter to put her footprints into those of her grandmother. Two generations to see women take their place in molding society, commerce, industry and politics and to have here in Abu Dhabi the first international organization to achieve gender parity.

She further stated that "Two generations, my sisters, is the time left to us to make energy transition happen. Every scenario - even the most conservative foresees 50% Renewable Energy in the world energy mix in 2050".

Ms Helene Pelosse underscored that energy is a basic human need. It is a necessary factor in fostering human development and economic growth. Without a secure, affordable, reliable, clean and sustainable energy supply everything will come to a standstill.

"As a global community, we face major environmental challenges: global warming, the depletion of natural resources, population growth, increasing energy demand, rising energy prices, and inequitable distribution of energy sources. And that's where the role of women is so important", she explained.

"My sisters, what mother would accept to leave such a legacy to her children? What grandmother would accept a uncertain future for her grandchildren? Because we care for our children and grandchildren, we care about the future, And because we are bearing the babies and we are raising the children we know the significance of these two generations - of what time means", she affirmed.

"We know that it takes nine months to bring a baby into the world, twelve more months to watch that child rise up and take its first steps, and we know that it takes many years to raise that child to take its place in the world and , hopefully, to make a difference", she added.

The IRENA DG urged that no one is so powerful to stop the march of time, We cannot procrastinate; we must not delay asking our governments, our partners in commerce and industry to take those important first steps and adopt the measures that will be the building blocks of a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.

"And we cannot forget our sisters and their children in the developing nations. We must not delay in asking our governments to reach out to our neighbors to share the knowledge that will make their communities a better place to live".

Energy is the common thread that will binds our societies together - no matter how diverse, no matter what corner of the globe we are from. It is a common thread through the social and economic policies that sustain our communities and therefore our families, she spelled out.

"I had a dream my sisters. In my dream Abu Dhabi became the first solar city in the Gulf region. Solar Water Heaters were compulsory for any new building and on each roof there were photovolatic panels".

"Abu Dhabi had become the first oil producing country to rely solely on Renewable Energy and low carbon energy. Abu Dhabi had become the Norway of the Gulf region. On the Arabian Gulf silent solar boats glittered under the sun. And on the streets electric cars were powered by Renewable Energy and low carbon energy. And on the pavements Photovoltaic street lighting stored the sunlight during the day to restitute it at night".

She believed a country with a strong vision will make this vision happen, a country that managed to get the Headquarters of the most promising international organization of the 21 century is ready to fight for the public common good of humanity.

A country that has switched directly to 100% digital meters is ready for the smart grid revolution, a country that has started to depart from the traditional OPEC stance is ready to rely no longer on the energy of the past to power its future, a country that values the role of its women is very likely to have a bright future, she vowed.

"I had a dream my sisters. We are in 2050. I am 80 years old. And it's my turn to be a grandmother. In my dream I am on a plane about to land in Abu Dhabi; from the window I can see the photovoltaic panels shimmering under the sun; the desert is covered with them. On the coast dozens of plants produce algae which grow very rapidly thanks to salted water and sun. Abu Dhabi has become a big exporter of them. They're the raw material for the bio fuels which powers the plane in which I am flying. I am not alone on this plane, there is a little girl holding my hand - my granddaughter", she declared.

"I promised to show her IRENA's home at Masdar's City, the first zero carbon city built in the world. Many things have changed since I first moved into IRENA's first Headquarters 40 years ago. The energy positive building I knew has been expanded to accommodate the numerous working groups focused on the many renewable energy projects underway. And the United Nation campus has expanded in Masdar City where each country has now opened an embassy", she said in a confident tone.

"Holding my granddaughter by the hand I take the subway to the City Center and the Corniche. It's almost dusk and together we admire the setting sun. The sun that is cooling and powering this once small state of 1962, now a centerpiece for world energy solutions".

In the end of her speech she said" My sisters, I have been blessed with three children. But I think of IRENA as my fourth child. This child has been born and like a proud parent, I am guiding, nurturing and watching it rise to take its first steps and make a difference to millions of people in many communities across the world. It has been an honor for me to share some of my past with you today, I hope you will also share the future".

WAM/AM/TF