Mission Statement
REN21 -- providing international leadership for the rapid expansion of renewable energy in developing and industrial countries -based on the cooperation of stakeholders from the energy, development and environment sectors.
Three fundamental fields of activity:
1. Policy: framing priority issues
2. Advocacy: highlighting benefits
3. Exchange: promoting knowledge flow

Establishment of the Network:
At its second meeting, 2-3 June 2005, the Steering Committee celebrated the official launch of REN21 - precisely one year after the Bonn renewables 2004 conference.
1. Policy -framing priority issues:
Implementation report and Impact Analysis for the International Action Programme of the renewables 2004 conference.
2. Advocacy -highlighting benefits
Policy issue papers produced:
- REN21 "Global Status Report" 2005, 2006, 2007
- Paper on "RE and the MDGs"
- "Changing Climates" on RE and Climate Change
3. Exchange -promoting knowledge flow
The reegle information gateway - cooperation with the REEEP partnership

Current structural setup, based on non-formalised participation, driven by a balanced Steering Committee and Bureau and supported by the Secretariat.
The Steering Committee - As the central governing entity of REN21, the Steering Committee is responsible for the composition and structural development of the Network, and develops and approves its central activities. Balanced geographically and by sector, the Steering Committee is divided into eight categories: Governments, IGOs, NGOs, Industry, Finance, Regional Governments, Local Governments, and at-large members. For membership please see: http://www.ren21.net/ren21/structure/steering_committee.asp

The Bureau - Composed of the Chair and Vice-Chairs, the Bureau makes decisions and exercises executive authority between meetings of the Steering Committee.

The Secretariat - The effective implementation of REN21 is supported by its Paris-based Secretariat, the main functions of which are:
- to support the SC as it further develops the network
- to act in the service of the work programme as agreed by the SC
- to support and coordinate the outreach of the network as agreed by the SC
- to provide organisational support and logistics for events
- to develop and maintain the website and public relations products of the network
- to perform necessary "back-office" functions (e.g. finance, administration/ funding, intranet for SC members and thematic issue groups)
- to provide substantive support to the Steering Committee

Policy - Framing Priority Issues
REN21 convenes and engages key leaders and stakeholders in national legislation and international processes. REN21 and its participants encourage the inclusion of renewable energy matters in the deliberations of appropriate meetings and venues, and target relevant political processes, such as CSD 14 and 15, meetings of the G8, UNFCCC, and the MDG review by the UN General Assembly.
REN21 encourages political support for the strengthening of regulatory environments and market structures that lead to accelerating use of renewable energy in developed and developing countries and emerging economies, and to expanded access to public and private financing.
REN21 encourages countries to meet commitments to renewable energy (particularly in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and in the International Action Programme of the renewables 2004 conference) and helps document and report on progress.

Advocacy - Highlighting Benefits
REN21 advocates the deployment of renewable energy as a critical component of strategies to increase access to energy services and to alleviate poverty in developing countries, and as a necessary component of environmentally and economically sound energy regimes in all countries, in particular addressing climate change and energy security.
By combining their experiences and expertise, by hosting high profile international events, and by producing authoritative and influential issue papers, REN21 participants improve the understanding of the value and essential contribution of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development, and promote attention to the opportunities associated with the expanded use of renewable energy.

Exchange - Promoting Knowledge Flow
REN21 promotes knowledge generation and transfer by providing links among existing and future knowledge bases on renewable energy market and policy developments, and by working to ensure that gaps in the knowledge base are effectively filled by capable organisations and individuals.
REN21 enables its participants to share experiences and best practices, to benefit from detailed and practical knowledge, and to engage in common analysis and review, as well as informal and frank debates.

Source(s): Government
Initial basic funding is secured by the German government, specifically from the German Development Ministry and the German Environment Ministry.