World leaders pledge support for more renewables
GLENEAGLES, Scotland, UK, July 13, 2005 (Refocus Weekly)
Members of the G8 group of developed nations promised to “promote the continued development and commercialisation of renewable energy” at their recent summit.
The G8 will promote the action program adopted at the renewables conference
last year in Bonn, starting with a conference later this year in China to
support the goals of the Renewable Energy Policy Network (REN 21), explains the
final communique of the world leaders. It will welcome the work of interested
parties to move forward the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and the Mediterranean
Renewable Energy Partnership (MEDREP).
The leaders promised to work with developing countries “to provide
capacity-building assistance, develop policy frameworks, undertake research &
development, and assess potential for renewable energy, including bioenergy,”
and said they would launch a global bioenergy partnership to “support wider,
cost effective biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing
countries where biomass use is prevalent.”
They will also welcome the establishment and further development of the range of
implementing agreements on renewable energy under the auspices of the
International Energy Agency.
“We have issued a statement setting out our common purpose in tackling climate
change, promoting clean energy and achieving sustainable development,” they
stated after meeting for three days. “All of us agreed that climate change is
happening now, that human activity is contributing to it, and that it could
affect every part of the globe.”
“We resolved to take urgent action to meet the challenges we face,” and the
Gleneagles Plan of Action will demonstrate their commitment by taking measures
“to develop markets for clean energy technologies, to increase their
availability in developing countries, and to help vulnerable communities adapt
to the impact of climate change.” The discussions mark the beginning of a new
dialogue between G8 nations and other countries with significant energy needs,
on how best to exchange technology, reduce emissions and meet energy needs in a
sustainable way.
“Climate change is a serious and long-term challenge that has the potential to
affect every part of the globe,” the communique explains. “We know that
increased need and use of energy from fossil fuels, and other human activities,
contribute in large part to increases in greenhouse gases associated with the
warming of our earth's surface. While uncertainties remain in our understanding
of climate science, we know enough to act now to put ourselves on a path to slow
and, as the science justifies, stop and then reverse the growth of greenhouse
gases.”
Global energy demands are expected to grow by 60% over the next 25 years, which
has the potential to cause a significant increase in GHG emissions associated
with climate change. “Secure, reliable and affordable energy sources are
fundamental to economic stability and development,” it adds.
“It is in our global interests to work together, and in partnership with major
emerging economies, to find ways to achieve substantial reductions in GHG
emissions and our other key objectives, including the promotion of low-emitting
energy systems,” it states. “The world's developed economies have a
responsibility to act.”
Action will include promotion of energy efficiency and conservation, and
acceleration of the deployment of cleaner and lower-emitting technologies.
“Tackling climate change and promoting clean technologies, while pursuing energy
security and sustainable development, will require a global concerted effort
over a sustained period,” and the leaders directed the IEA to advise on
“alternative energy scenarios and strategies aimed at a clean clever and
competitive energy future.”
The World Bank will take “a leadership role in creating a new framework for
clean energy and development, including investment and financing,” and G8 will
work with the IEA to “draw together research into the challenges of integrating
renewable energy sources into networks and optimising the efficiency of grids”
in order to produce a report.
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