A new institution to promote renewable energy The founding conference of the International Agency for Renewable Energy (IRENA) took place at the end of January in Bonn. As a counterweight to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), IRENA will offer practical advice on the introduction of renewable energy, technology transfer and financing projects in developing countries. IRENA is an initiative of Hermann Scheer, president of the European Association for Renewable Energy (EUROSOLAR). So far 50 states have agreed to join the agency. IRENA wants to start its work immediately, in order to tackle climate change at a global level. (jw)

European Union renews subsidies for dairy exports In January, the European Commission announced, that it will once again provide the export subsidies for milk and dairy products, after having discontinued them last year in view of global food-price inflation. The German NGOs Brot für die Welt (“Bread for the world”) and Germanwatch protested against the export subsidies, stating these measures were a “slap in the face” for dairy-farmers in developing countries. Other NGOs expressed similar opinions. Many producers in developing countries are unable to compete with highly subsidised European dairy products. (jw)

German NGOs critical of EU stance on climate change Klima Allianz (Climate Allicance), an network of some 100 non-governmental organisations in Germany, has called on the European Union to drop its hesitant approach to climate negotiations. Klima Allianz demands that the EU make substantial proposals in order to get developing-country governments “on board”. Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel of the Protestant charity Brot für die Welt (“Bread for the World”) said that, in line with the polluter-pays-principle, Europe should fund at least one third of the estimated € 100 billion that poor countries will need to adapt to climate change by 2020. Such funds, moreover, would have to be disbursed on top of official development assitance to the tune of 0,7 % of GDP, she said. (dem)