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Abu Dhabi voted IRENA headquarters
United Arab Emirates was voted as the headquarters of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) by its members, after Germany and Austria pulled out of the race.
United Arab Emirates was voted as the headquarters of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) by its members, after Germany and Austria pulled out of the race.
UAE's Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked the countries that attended the conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, on Monday. The meeting was attended by 129 states.
He particularly appreciated the stance of Germany and Austria, which supported the UAE's quest to host the headquarters. Germany and Austria withdrew their candidature after it emerged that an overwhelming number of states would vote for the UAE.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) an intergovernmental agency was established in Bonn, Germany on 26 January 2009. Till now 136 states have become the members of IRENA which aims to promote the widespread adoption of renewable energy, according to its website.
The agency's presence in the UAE would also bring environmental awareness in the region, which has the world's biggest per capita emissions of CO2, experts said.
The UAE said it plans to house IRENA in Masdar City, a zero wastage carbon-neutral town under construction in Dubai adding the IRENA headquarters would be ready by 2011.
