The UN has declared the "International Year of Sustainable Energy for All". UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon proclaimed the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All at the start of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, which took place after the annual Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Last weekend (14 to 15 January, 2012) the second session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Representatives of more than 150 countries participated. The meeting also adopted the organisation's overall budget which will increase to about US$ 28.4 million in 2012. Germany contributes a major share to the organisation's activities with the IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC), which opened in Bonn in October last year and which will receive US$ 4 million support from Germany in 2012. The increasing importance of IRENA is highlighted by the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's announcement of China's intention to join the organisation.
Back to back with the IRENA Assembly, the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is taking place in Abu Dhabi from 16 to 19 January 2012. With the participation of China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, a host of energy ministers and more than 26,000 visitors and 3,000 delegates from about 140 nations, this year's summit convenes under the slogan of the forthcoming UN year "Sustainable Energy for All", which was launched by UN Secretary- General Ban Ki Moon in Abu Dhabi. The goal of the UN initiative is to give access to modern energy services to all by 2030 and to double the share of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix at the same time.