Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

It is a distinct honor and privilege to address, on behalf of the Philippine government and the Filipino people, this 2nd session of the Preparatory Commission of IRENA in this charming city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

The current picture of the world’s energy consumption is still dominated by fossil fuels as renewable energy accounted for no more than five percent of global power capacity in 2007. The picture is likely to remain for decades to come; but at least, by coming together, we are creating new pathways to achieve development without having to compromise the future of our environment.

In the next two days, the world will be watching us as we elevate our efforts toward a higher plane of action. These actions should help us realize coherence between general energy and environment policies and specific renewable policy and plan of action.

The Philippines passed its Renewable Energy Act in December 2008. With its passage comes our optimism to further improve our position as the second largest geothermal energy producer in the world and the largest wind energy developer in Southeast Asia. We have set the ambitious target of doubling the contribution of renewable energy sector to our primary energy supply mix by 2020. This resolve, together with the right policy environment, our vast renewable energy potential, and the collective push of all those who constitute the IRENA, can help countries, like the Philippines, reach the so-called “light at the end of the climate tunnel.”

In saying this, I urge the member countries of IRENA and the world community at large to collectively respond to a number of challenges:

First, we need to see a geographic broadening of renewable energy development and capacity rollout. Renewable energy and energy efficiency needs to become a political priority for all countries – developing and developed alike. IRENA should make this happen.

Second, we need to spread the reach of investments to developing countries. Such investments, including technology transfer and resources for research and development, need to reach the developing world.

Third, we need to make available new financial mechanisms at the international level to emerging and developing economies to drive down costs and overcome barriers to development. In order to maximize the fullest impact of renewable energy development, exchange of experts and renewable energy resource mapping need to be supported. IRENA, together with international development banks and development organizations are called upon to respond to this need. For many countries, renewable energy may be the only way by which millions of people in remote rural areas may have access to clean and quality energy. For us, renewable energy is about human survival.

Fourth, we need to have IRENA widen and deepen information exchange among countries. A global information bandwagon needs to be launched and carried out vigorously. In the end, renewable energy should be seen not as an alternative, but rather the energy of choice among countries.

Fifth, IRENA needs to keep its inclusive character, for no national and global effort will succeed without the support and cooperation of all stakeholders through social mobilization. In the Philippines, social mobilization or the substantial involvement of the entire society, including government, private sector, civil society, academe, media, youth, and the religious sector, among others, has become a key approach to generating support to renewable energy. This is vital as we, in the Philippines, collectively launch a massive effort to address the dire consequences of climate change and energy supply issues.

We are, of course, aware that the challenges, resource opportunities, financing, and market conditions are diverse across regions and countries.

Thus, different approaches are needed.

Our meeting also comes at an opportune time as countries prepare for another round of climate change diplomacy leading up to the Copenhagen meeting in December. Renewable energy is not only relevant to these coming discussions. It is a core ingredient towards achieving meaningful emission reductions.

What we seek, therefore, to achieve in IRENA may appear daunting as there is no single solution and approach to addressing the twin issues of energy security and climate change. Our collective resolve, however, will undoubtedly help us achieve our shared goal of optimizing renewable energy development and use across regions and across countries—developed and developing alike.

Having said this, the Philippines is honored and privileged to be one of the founding members of IRENA. We have always believed that cooperation, dialogue, and networking – key principles embodied by IRENA, offer the fastest and most effective way of ushering in a more sustainable energy future.

Thank you.