The Diplomat
The Government of Spain has committed to host the next International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), to be held in Madrid from February 21-23, 2023.
To that end, the Government has partnered with the Renewable Energy Agency for the 21st Century (REN21) to organize IREC through the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), an entity attached to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), the Executive reported this week.
“IREC is shaped as a series of high-level policy conferences focused on sustainable energy transition that acts as a common platform for leaders from governments, the private sector and civil society to jointly address the drive for renewable energies,” the Ministry explained. This leading international conference will bring together more than 60 high-level representatives, including heads of state, prime ministers, ministers and other authorities.
“I am very pleased that Spain will host the next IREC,” said Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera. “It is a unique opportunity to accelerate the energy transition and boost the adoption of renewable energies,” she continued. “Creating the necessary acceptance framework requires broad multi-stakeholder dialogue and also requires bridging the gap between energy supply and demand,” she added.
The minister also recalled that Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan states that 40% of funds must contribute to the fight against climate change and that 100% of funding must comply with the principle of ‘no significant harm to the environment’. To date, more than €10 billion has been earmarked for actions directly related to the energy transition. “Spain is well placed to host such an event and we are proud to partner with REN21 to carry out this task,” she assured.
According to REN21 think tank president Arthouros Zervos, “energy is deeply embedded in our societies and economies, which means that stakeholders have diverse energy needs and can benefit from renewables in different ways.” “These benefits must be at the heart of defining the energy future,” representing an approach “necessary to gain societal and market acceptance and, through this, political acceptance,” he added.
