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The Director-General of IRENA, Mr. Adnan Amin and the Secretary General of WMO, Mr. Michel Jarraud, signed this first MOU between IRENA and a UN agency on 5 December during the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2011 (COP17).

This partnership had been initiated in Cancun at COP 16 last year and reached its successful conclusion with the signing ceremony today in Durban.

The partnership brings together the WMO’s scientific knowledge and network, technical capabilities and programs, with IRENA’s knowledge and convening power in the renewable energy area. This first agreement will provide meteorological information and scientific expertise on climate services to better serve the needs of the energy community.

Mr. Amin said: “The partnership we are signing today illustrates the need for cross-sectoral cooperation to respond to the twin challenges of energy security and climate change. The contribution of meteorology to the accurate mapping of renewable energy potentials is essential and will enable IRENA to effectively address the needs of its stakeholders by providing critical information for decision making.”

Under this agreement, 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.

Mr. Jarraud said: “This partnership between WMO and IRENA is symbolic of the extensive synergies developed over the last decade, between the meteorological and climate community and the renewable energy community to jointly address the challenge of climate change.

“As WMO is recognized as the UN specialized agency with a mandate for international cooperation responsible in the field of meteorology, hydrology, climate and environmental issues as well as promoting rapid exchanges of meteorological, hydrological and climatological information, it is the common interest of IRENA and WMO to enhance their cooperation.”

IRENA will utilize 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.