5 December 2011: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement activities related to the assessment of renewable energy potential in the context of the Global Framework for Climate Services.

The signing ceremony was attended by Adnan Amin, IRENA Director-General, and Michel Jarraud, WMO Secretary General, and took place on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC in Durban, South Africa.

The partnership brings together WMO’s scientific knowledge and network, technical capabilities and programmes, with IRENA’s knowledge and convening power in the renewable energy area. The agreement will provide meteorological information and scientific expertise on climate services to better serve the needs of the energy community. IRENA and WMO will exchange their publications and consult with each other on matters of mutual interest, in particular on scientific, technological, regulatory and development issues.

IRENA will use the information from WMO’s international networks to assess renewable energy potentials in countries where this information is not available. The two organizations will develop their respective competences and activities to implement the Global Framework for Climate Services. The Global Framework for Climate Services was established at the World Climate Conference 3 in Geneva, Switzerland in 2009. The 2011 World Meteorological Congress placed the Framework amongst its top five priorities for the next four years, and will meet in 2012 for the purpose of reviewing and adopting a draft implementation plan. The Framework will operate as an intergovernmental board, with a governance structure similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and will be hosted by the World Meteorological Organization. [WMO Press Release] [IRENA Press Release]