The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

IRENA maintains a clear and independent position and provides a range of reliable, accessible services, gathering existing activities and information around a central hub.

The international renewable-energy community is large, resourceful, and rapidly evolving. IRENA’s role is to seek out, establish and develops new synergies, facilitate dialogue, share best practices, promote enabling policies, build capacity and foster co-operation at the global, regional and national levels. IRENA encourages investment flows and works to strengthen technology and innovation, with diverse stakeholders contributing to these shared goals.

International, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations are natural and indispensable partners to IRENA, as are the many private-sector companies already seizing the opportunities offered by renewable energy. Civil-society groups can also contribute to the IRENA vision by advocating and observing the actions of governments and the private sector. IRENA facilitates knowledge-sharing partnerships, ensuring that existing information and experience is developed, organised, and made accessible.

As a global platform for inclusive co-operation, IRENA is uniquely positioned to bring together these different constituencies. It serves as the convening platform to advance the widespread adoption and use of renewable energy, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding a sustainable future.

The Parties to the IRENA Statute,

• desiring to promote the widespread and increased adoption of renewable energy with a view to sustainable development,
• inspired from firm belief in the vast opportunities offered by renewable energy for addressing and gradually alleviating problems of energy security and volatile energy prices,
• convinced of the major role that renewable energy can play in reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the stabilisation of the climate system, and allowing for a sustainable, secure and gentle transit to a low-carbon economy,
• desiring to foster the positive impact that renewable energy technologies can have on stimulating sustainable economic growth and creating employment,
• motivated by the huge potential of renewable energy in providing decentralised access to energy, particularly in developing countries, and access to energy for isolated and remote regions and islands,
• concerned about the serious negative implications that the use of fossil fuels and the inefficient use of traditional biomass can have on health,
• convinced that renewable energy, combined with enhanced energy efficiency, can increasingly cover the anticipated steep increase in global energy needs in the coming decades, and
• affirming their desire to establish an international organisation for renewable energy that facilitates the cooperation between its Members, while also establishing a close collaboration with existing organisations that promote the use of renewable energy,

Have agreed to establish the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Please download the IRENA Statute in different languages below. The IRENA Statute is available in English and in four other United Nations official languages (Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish) as well as in the language of the Depository (German).