International Renewable Energy Agency

The Worldwatch Institute is running a series on the newly formed International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) which is to meet next week to decide on a headquarters and elect the first director general.

UPDATE (9 July): IRENA has chosen Abu Dhabi as its headquarters and Helene Pelosse as director-general

I actually missed the announcement of the agency formation in January,but I welcome the formation of such a agency.

There is currently only one major international agency which is direct responsible for energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA).
But it is mostly a club for rich, energy consuming countries. The amount of its budget designated for renewable energy has recently increased to 2 percent. And all of its members are also members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Take a look at its website and the first thing you see are links to oil and gas market reports and the oil and gas prices.

So let us welcome the new IRENA and hope that developing countries and others get a voice.