Tony Blair expresses support for UAE's proposal to host IRENA headquarters

Nicosia, June 3 (ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed strong support for UAE's proposal to host the headquarters of the newly established International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the Masdar city of Abu Dhabi, saying that the political and technical arguments for this were overwhelmingly strong.

"Locating IRENA in the developing world would send a powerful signal that all nations must participate in the transition to a sustainable future. And that we are committed to not leave developing nations behind," said the former premier, who is currently the Middle East peace envoy, in the course of a recent visit to Abu Dhabi.

The other countries, which offered to host the headquarters of Irena, are Austria, Denmark and Germany.

A decision on the headquarters is expected to be taken by the 83 members of the new organisation at a meeting in Egypt at the end of this month.

Blair praised the efforts made by the UAE efforts in nurturing the renewable energy industry "and the unprecedented political will that has already manifested itself in the Masdar Initiative, which started in 2006 and is expected to cost 22 billion dollars.

Mastar city will be the only city in the world which will be carbon-neutral, zero waste city, completely powered by renewable energy.

It will also be the location of the Mastar Institute of Science and Technology which will be assisted by the MIT.

Cars will be banned within the city. Travel will be accomplished via public mass transit and personal rapid transit systems. (ANI)