The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has been launched today at the beginning of a two-day establishing conference in Bonn, Germany.
An initiative spearheaded by Germany, with support from Denmark and Spain, the agency has had dozens of countries signed up so far.
The agency is argued to be a key step in helping to address climate change, which supporters said will help parties to take informed decisions and use renewable energies in cost effective ways.
Supporters aim to make the agency the main driving force to promote rapid transition to widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale. It is envisaged by them that the agency will act as the ‘global voice’ for renewable energies and facilitate access to all relevant information, including data, best practices, effective financial mechanisms, and technological expertise.
Pre-launch activities included a side event at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP14) last month, which followed significant development activities throughout 2008.