At a conference in Madrid, 51 states laid the foundations and agreed on the text of the Statute of IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, that will be signed at an official ceremony on 26 January 2009 in Bonn. IRENA will support industrialised and developing countries in expanding renewable energies. Worldwide many countries have set themselves ambitious targets for increasing the share of renewable energies in national energy consumption. A large majority of these countries would like detailed consultation and advice on this process. IRENA will aid its member states in adapting their political framework conditions, capacity building and improving financing and technology transfer for renewable energies. These will play an essential role in a sustainable and climate-friendly energy supply.