"Global Wind Day is a fantastic opportunity to remind people all around the world that we can achieve a genuine energy revolution. The technology is there to fundamentally transform the way we produce electricity, while saving billions of tons of CO2 and creating much needed jobs in the future," says Klaus Rave, Chairman of the Global Wind Energy Association (GWEC).

Tens of thousands of people are expected to join the Global Wind Day events, which will take place from 12 to 20 June. Overall, the organisers are hoping to reach around one million people with their message.

"Public acceptance of wind energy is immensely important for keeping up the momentum of sustained growth, and the events of this week show that the support for wind energy is truly global," says Arthouros Zervos, President of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

GWEC and EWEA are coordinating the Global Wind Day in cooperation with many national wind energy associations and wind power companies. The two organisations expect around 210 events to take place in 26 countries, including a number of new participating countries such as Venezuela, Argentina, Norway and Canada.

EWEA erected a 29.5 m wind turbine blade in the heart of the European quarter in Brussels to highlight the benefits of wind power to key decision makers.