”Preparatory Conference for the Foundation of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)”

April 09-11, 2008 at the German Federal Foreign Office

From 9 to 11 April, 2008, the German Federal Government hosted the Preparatory Conference for the Foundation of an International Renewable Energy Agency in the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. 170 participants from 60 countries attended and discussed the possible objectives, activities, organisation and finance of an IRENA.

The meeting took place at a critical juncture – as the world is facing both a growing energy demand and the necessity to limit global warming. The conference participants shared a sense of urgency to switch to a more secure, low-carbon energy system without undermining economic and social development. They agreed that renewable energy has to play an important role in this energy revolution.

The German Government is encouraged by the support expressed at the conference. It will take the initiative to further consult the governments of all the participants assembled here and other countries who might want to join in.

The conference documents can be found under "downloads".

Matthias Machnig, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety	Heinrich Tiemann, State Secretary, Federal Foreign Office	Dr Hermann Scheer, MP, Chairman Eurosolar, World Council for Renewable Energy	Dr Martin Bursík, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment, Czech Republic
Matthias Machnig, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety	Heinrich Tiemann and Matthias Machnig	Heinrich Tiemann, State Secretary, Federal Foreign Office	Matthias Machnig and Dr Hermann Scheer