The Taoiseach has announced that the Government will invest over €200m in energy-related research and development.
Speaking at a sustainable energy conference in Dublin, Mr Ahern said the money will be made available over the five years and will achieve a win/win situation of improved competitiveness and environmental performance.
Mr Ahern outlined how Government policies will try to create jobs by developing new green technologies and end Ireland's high reliance on imported fuels.
He said: 'We are uniquely placed to secure our economic future by marking ourselves out as a centre of the global green energy boom. This is the decision we have taken as a Government.'
'We want to take a direct, interactive approach to inform future Government actions so that Ireland becomes a leading low carbon economy.
'Our incentive to tackle the climate change challenge is all the greater because the actions we need to take will also protect our economy from future oil and gas supply stocks.
'We are using 165,000 barrels of oil each day, which is some ten pints of oil for every man, woman and child each and every day of the year.
'We have to prepare now for a future when conventional oil supplies start to contract rather than continue to expand.'
Five Ministers and two Ministers of State also addressed today's conference.
The meeting comes as an Irish wave-energy company, Wavebob, has signed a lucrative agreement with one of Europe's biggest electricity companies.
The venue was the Energy Forum, a new body aimed at allowing Irish industry to interact with relevant Cabinet members on how to develop sustainable energy.
Opposition parties are expected to welcome the focus on green energy but have pointed out that Ireland is currently more than 90% reliant on imported fuel, and our greenhouse gas emissions are at nearly twice the level they are supposed to be.
Before the election, Mr Ahern promised that, if re-elected, there would be 'a green revolution' in Ireland.
