The world took a step forward in its efforts to fight climate change with the Jan. 26 inauguration of the International Renewable Energy Agency in Bonn, Germany. Member states hope that IRENA, the first global organization dedicated to renewable energy, will become the world's "new mouthpiece for renewable energies" and be a leading force in the advancement and adoption of clean energy.
The agency says it will "provide practical advice and support for both industrialized and developing countries, help them improve their regulatory frameworks and build capacity." It also says it "will facilitate access to all relevant information including reliable data on the potential of renewable energy, best practices, effective financial mechanisms and state of the art technologies."
More than 50 states are committed to full membership, including Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Thailand and India. But equally significant is the list of countries that have yet to join. Their ranks include the world's two worst polluters, the United States and China, as well as Britain and Japan.