New Zealand intends to join an intergovernmental organisation that promotes the production and sustainable use of renewable energy, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.
He said 73 percent of our electricity came from renewable sources in 2009, and the Government aimed to increase it 90 percent by 2025.
New Zealand was currently working to gain the necessary approval to join International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), he said.
"We look forward to working closely with the IRENA secretariat on this important initiative, and playing our part to achieve IRENA's goal of accelerating the global use of renewable energy."
The organisation was established in January last year and its statute has been signed by 143 states and the European Union, with 16 ratifications so far.
Labour welcomed the news but said it was sceptical about the Government's commitment to increasing the share of New Zealand's energy that came from renewable sources.
"In New Zealand we're fortunate that most of our electricity generation already comes from renewable sources but the trend in recent years has been for a greater proportion to come from non-renewable sources such as gas and coal," said energy spokesman Charles Chauvel.
"And it's hard to reconcile the Government's stated commitment to renewable energy with their desire to mine minerals in our national parks."
