Declaration on the formation of IRENA, June 2009by the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy
We, as long-term supporters of renewable energy and representatives of prominent organisations working in this field bring the following letter to the attention of the delegates from IRENA signatory countries, by paying full respect to all the delegate’s forthcoming decisions at the second meeting of the Preparatory Commission in Egypt on June 29 and 30 2009.
We recommend that Dr. Hermann Scheer be appointed Founding Chair for the formation period of IRENA to directly support the Director General. It must be acknowledged that the breakthrough represented by the establishment of IRENA can be in great part credited to the work of Dr. Hermann Scheer. Together with the two non-profit international organisations under his leadership, EUROSOLAR and World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE), he has struggled for two decades to achieve the founding of IRENA. Dr. Scheer pioneered the concept that shapes IRENA today. Numerous obstacles on the long way to IRENA have been overcome through his outstanding international leadership for the advancement of renewable energies. He first lobbied for the idea to establish an IRENA on many international conferences and succeeded in initiating the decisions that were crucial to obtain the support of Germany for launching IRENA at the government level. All these facts clearly indicate that IRENA is connected inextricably with Dr. Scheer’s vision and work.
Furthermore, through his seminal books on renewable energy strategies, his ability to empower people and to form strong alliances, and as a successful legislator for renewable energy policies in his native country he has inspired a generation of decision makers, politicians, parliaments, and organisations, as well as concerned individuals, about the imperative necessity of implementing a new energy paradigm for the service of humankind.
The German government refrained from nominating Dr. Scheer for the post of IRENA’s Director General because it decided to concentrate all of its efforts to ensure that Bonn becomes the headquarters of IRENA. This decision happened with the consent of Hermann Scheer who supported Bonn as seat for IRENA from the early beginning. The broad acceptance of IRENA proves that the agency is directly linked to a worldwide hope to overcome the inherent dangers and shortcomings associated with the use of nuclear power and fossil fuels. Renewable energies offer unique opportunities to achieve a secure and independent energy supply that does not harm the environment, the climate and human health. Only renewable sources can reliably satisfy the increasing energy demand of a growing world population and their energy needs. Achieving the full potential of renewable sources swiftly and comprehensively is the central challenge of the 21st century and represents a unique chance for humanity to thrive and prosper. Therefore, we consider the formation of IRENA unthinkable without Dr. Scheer’s essential contributions and firmly believe that he should be directly involved in the early leadership of IRENA to help ensure its success.
IRENA must act as a straightforward international advocate for renewable energy. As an international governmental organisation, IRENA has the opportunity and responsibility to champion the use of renewable sources everywhere, without interference into the legislative competence of governments. IRENA must inspire the adoption of effective policies and best-practice solutions that accelerate and reinforce the rapid introduction of all renewable energy options. IRENA must proactively commit governments and the public to become aware of the advantages of adopting a new and sustainable energy future for all nations, with special attention to the needs of developing countries, which can be satisfied through the multiple economic and societal benefits related to the adoption of renewable energy strategies.
We therefore urge the signatories of IRENA who will come together for the decisions at the next meeting of IRENA in Egypt to harness Hermann Scheer’s talents and potential by entrusting him with the extraordinary role of Founding Chair to thereby directly support IRENA’s Director General.
We all have experienced his inspiration and achievements that are firmly based on his comprehensive view of the obstacles, practical solutions, and opportunities related to renewable energy. Therefore, we are convinced that his involvement is indispensable to ensure the success of IRENA’s work.
First signatories:
Franz Alt Journalist, writer, guest lecturer, Germany
Prof. Mustapha Ayaita Chair, MENA Institute University Kassel, Morocco
Heinrich Bartelt Treasurer, World Wind Energy Association
Marianne Bender Chair, OVE, Danish Renewable Energy Organisation
Jens-Peter Bonde Former Member of the European Parliament, Denmark
Prof. Godfrey Boyle Director, Energy & Environment Research Unit, Open Univ. Milton Keynes, UK
Lester Brown President, Earth Policy Institute, USA
Prof. Federico Butera Head, Research Unit Energy and Buildings, University Milan, Italy
Prof. Luciana Castellina Former Member of the European Parliament, Italy
Ole Vagn Christensen Member of the Danish Parliament, Social Democratic Party
Roberto Cogliati Dezza President, Lega Ambiente, Italy
Peter Danielsson Board member, SERO, National Organisation of Sweden’s Energy Associations
Prof. Peter Droege University of Liechtenstein, Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning
Michael Eckhart President, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
Dr. José Etcheverry President, Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance
Hans-Josef Fell Member of the German Parliament, Green Group
Anders Fisker Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassador, Danish Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Dörte Fouquet Director, European Renewable Energies Federation
Paul Gipe Author, advocate, renewable energy industry analyst, USA
Prof. Herbert Girardet Co-Founder and Director of Programmes, World Future Council
Giuliano Grassi Secretary General, European Biomass Industry Association
Stefan Gsänger Secretary General, World Wind Energy Association
Wolfgang Hein Former Head of Division, Energy and Environment Affairs, Austrian Chancellery
Prof. Dieter Holm President, ISES (International Solar Energy Society) Africa
Christine Hornstein Executive Director, ISES (International Solar Energy Society)
Prof. Frede Hvelplund Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, Denmark
Bianca Jagger Chair, World Future Council, President, Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation
Dr. Anil Kane President, World Wind Energy Association
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. International Environmental Advocate, USA
Ruth N. Kiwanuka CEO, Joint Energy and Environment Projects, Uganda
Klaus Knecht Chair, Renewable Energy Capacity Building Program INWENT, Germany
Andriy Konechenkov Chairman, Ukrainian Wind Energy Association
Dr. Hans Kronberger Former Member of the European Parliament, Austria
Jane Kruse Program Leader, World Wind Energy Institute
Jeremy Leggett Founder and Executive Chairman, Solar Century, UK
Zhouqing Li President TISET, Beijing, China
Prof. Wu Libin Secretary of Foreign Affairs, BIOMA / BRTC / China Biogas Society (CBS)
Amory B. Lovins Chairman, Rocky Mountain Institute, USA
Preben Maegaard Director, Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Denmark
Ulla Meixner Chair, Financial Advisory Committee German Wind Energy Association
Prof. Niels I. Meyer Emeritus Professor of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Christine Milne Senator, Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Spokesperson on Climate Change
Prof. Masataka Murahara Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
Raymond Myles Secretary General cum Chief Executive INSEDA, India
Hermann Oelsner President, African Wind Energy Association
Leoluca Orlando Member of the Italian Parliament, Former Mayor of Palermo, Italy
Prof. Galal Osman President, Egyptian Wind Energy Association
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah Special Representative of the UN Secretary -General in West Africa
Mauro Passos President, Instituto IDEAL, Brazil
Steen Piper Publisher, Forlaget Hovedland, Denmark
Prof. Josep Puig Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Ermete Realacci Member of the Italian Parliament, Honorary President, Lega Ambiente, Italy
Dr. Rudolf Rechsteiner Member of the National Council, Switzerland
Harald N. Roestvik Solar Pioneer, www.sunlab.no, Norway
Mechtild Rothe Vice President European Parliament, President EUFORES
Prof. Takeo S. Saitoh Ex-President, Japan Solar Energy Society
Ganesh Ram Shrestha Director, Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal
Prof. Lumin Shrestha Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal
Prof. Erico Spinadel President, Argentinian Wind Energy Association
David Suzuki Co-Founder, David Suzuki Foundation
IIDA Tetsunari Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, Japan
Volker Thomsen President Ret., St. Lawrence College Kingston, Canada
Dr. Ibrahim Togola Director, Mali Folkecenter for Renewable Energy
Jakob von Uexkull Founder, World Future Council
Izumi Ushiyama President, Ashikaga Institute of Technology, Japan
Prof. Tanay Sidki Uyar Vice President, World Wind Energy Association
Dr. Gu Weidong Chief Scientist, Wind Power Project, National Basic Research Program, China
Dr. Marc A. Weiss Chairman and CEO, Global Urban Development
Prof. E.U. von Weizsäcker Former President, Wuppertal Institute, Germany
Moneef R. Zou'bi Director General, Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS)