International Renewable Energy Agency

Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart in (a) Germany, (b) Austria, (c) Denmark and (d) the United Arab Emirates on their bids to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
[holding answer 23 June 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) with the German, Austrian or Danish Foreign Ministers. He has discussed the issue with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the German Environment Minister. He stressed with both that, as the UK was not a member of IRENA and so had no voting rights, the UK would not take a formal position on where the headquarters should be situated.

Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with counterparts in (a) Canada, (b) China, (c) Japan, (d) India, (e) Brazil, (f) Australia and (g) the US regarding membership of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
[holding answer 23 June 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with counterparts in these countries concerning the International Renewable Energy Agency.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has lead responsibility for our policy towards renewable energy. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was set up by the German Government in January 2009 and now has around 100 member governments. Mandated by these governments worldwide, IRENA aspires to become the main driving force for promoting a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale. The UK (DECC) have now confirmed that they will sign-up to IRENA; this should happen this week.