AFED participated in the Middle East and North Africa Renewable Energy Conference (MENAREC) that was held in Kuwait on 4-6 April.

 

Adnan Shihab-Eldin, AFED Board Member and Director General of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science, participated in an opening debate. Secretary General Najib Saab and Senior Adviser Ibrahim Abdel Gelil took part in various sessions as speakers and panelists.

 

Saab stressed that renewable energy (RE) is now major component of the energy mix. He pointed out that measures to phase out subsidies across Arab countries are boosting RE and enhancing efficiency. He gave the bold 2016 budget in Saudi Arabia as an example, as it put a price tag on nature services, in view of boosting efficiency and preserving resources.

 

He said that renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability planning in general, should be integral part of reconstruction efforts in conflict and war zones.

 

It was announced that the 7th MENAREC conference will be held in Tunisia in 2018.