ABU DHABI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on Sunday named Francesco La Camera of Italy as its new director-general.
La Camera is to take office as of April 4 to succeed Adnan Amin, who has been the first director-general of the Abu Dhabi-based IRENA since 2011, reported the United Arab Emirates (UAE) official news agency WAM.
La Camera was appointed during the closing session of the three-day ninth IRENA general assembly, the highest decision-making body in the agency, which was held in Abu Dhabi.
La Camera currently serves as director-general for sustainable development, energy and climate at the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea.
He had led the Italian negotiation team to the conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
La Camera was elected for a four-year term and will lead the IRENA Secretariat and the implementation of the agency's work program and budget.
IRENA serves as the principal platform for international cooperation on renewable energy, and a center of knowledge and innovation which supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.
At the meeting, the IRENA general assembly approved a draft resolution forwarded by the UAE to grant Amin the title of "director-general emeritus" of the agency in recognition of his work as its first chief.