Nations Agree To Speed Promotion Of Renewable Energy

The Renewables 2004 conference ended today in Bonn with 154 countries pledging to promote alternative sources of energy "with a sense of urgency" and with the World Bank announcing it will double loans to fund renewable energy projects around the world by 2010. According to Associated Press, countries participating in the four-day conference organized by Germany did not set specific global targets, but approved an international action program of 192 projects to develop renewable energy sources.

In the meeting's final declaration, governments said they "reaffirm their commitment to substantially increase with a sense of urgency the global share of renewable energy in the total energy supply" (Geir Moulson, AP/Canadian Press, June 4). Yesterday, the World Bank announced it would increase loans to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects by 20 percent a year over the next five years, increasing its current annual lending for such projects to $400 million by 2010.

Germany announced it will provide an extra $600 million in addition to the $600 million it committed in 2002 to help developing countries promote the use of alternative sources of energy (Agence France-Presse/Folha de Sao Paulo, June 3, U.N. Wire translation). "High energy prices, for example those of oil, are undermining the chances of economic development across the world," said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. "At the same time, events in Saudi Arabia and Iraq make dramatically clear how vitally important an energy supply with as many sources as possible is for all our security" (Moulson, AP/Toronto Star, June 3). According to the International Energy Agency, renewables account for only 5 percent of the world's energy supplies, compared with 50 percent for coal and gas, 38 percent for oil and 7 percent for nuclear (AFP/Yahoo! News, June 3).

Among the 26 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, research and development spending on renewable energies has stood at $900 million per year from 1990 to 2002, much lower than the $2.7 billion invested in 1980 (Moulson, AP/Toronto Star). Yesterday, U.N. Environment Program Executive Director Klaus Toepfer stressed the need for sustainable energy sources. "It is clear to me that unless we can overcome the energy poverty facing Africa and many parts of the developing world, we will never overcome the poverty that is so closely linked to environmental degradation," he said. UNEP estimates that around 1.6 billion people, or one-quarter of the world's population, do not have access to electricity, with Africa being the worst affected region. In Kenya, for instance, 90 percent of the population lives without electricity. "It is time to get down to business," Toepfer said. "Sustainable energy is needed for sustainable development, but investment is needed for sustainable energy. This investment must be made not just in technology, but also in people and skills who can use this technology for sustainable development" (Renewables 2004 release, June 3). Reuse Guidelines View Complete Issue: June 4, 2004 All Environment articles: June 4, 2004 © 2003 by National Journal Group Inc., 1501 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of National Journal. All rights reserved.