1981 - The creation of an international agency dedicated to renewable energy was first proposed during the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy in Nairobi, Kenya.
2004 - The International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany, 2004 calls for the establishment of a global clean energy agency in its concluding resolution.
2006 - Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, is established.
2008 - Construction begins on Masdar City, the world's first low-carbon city.
April 2008 - Irena's first preparatory conference takes place in Berlin – 170 participants from 60 countries took part, discussing the possible future structure and objectives of the organisation.
January 2009 - Founding Conference held in Bonn, with 75 member states signing the Irena Statute.
June 2009 - Abu Dhabi is selected to host the interim headquarters of Irena during the second session of the preparatory commission held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
October 2010 - Adnan Amin replaces French national Helene Pelosse as the interim director general of Irena.
April 2011 - Irena's first assembly establishes the agency with Abu Dhabi as its permanent seat.
October 2011 - Renewables Readiness Assessments Programme begins.
January 2012 - High-level participation at Irena's second assembly includes United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and other global leaders.
April 2012 - The Irena Renewable Energy Learning Partnership launches.
October 2012 - Construction begins on permanent Irena headquarters in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi's clean-technology hub.
November 2012 - First International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference, Ghana.
January 2013 - Global Atlas for Renewable Energy, a free online resource assessment tool for policymakers and investors, goes live at Irena's third assembly.
October 2013 - Headquarters agreement between the UAE and Irena goes into force. Irena receives the credentials of its first permanent representatives, from the UAE and Germany.
January 2014 - At Irena's fourth assembly, Irena and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development award US$41 million (Dh150m) in loans to support the construction of renewable energy projects in six developing countries.
September 2014 - Launch of the SIDS Lighthouse Initiative and Rethinking Energy.
November 2013 - Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi becomes the UAE's first Permanent Representative to Irena.
January 2015 - Mr Amin is reappointed for a second four-year term as director general.
May 2015 - Launch of Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2015. Renewable energy employs 7.7 million people worldwide.
June 2015 - Global headquarters' inauguration event. Irena now has 140 member states (139 countries and the European Union), with 32 more countries in the process of accession.
vtodorova@thenational.ae
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
______________________________________________________________
Irena:
■ UAE celebrates landmark Irena launch
■ Basing a renewable organisation in Abu Dhabi send a world message
■ The increasing importance and use of renewables - graphic
■ The UAE's greenest building projects
■ Abu Dhabi opens Irena to world
______________________________________________________________
