Final declaration from Bonn calls for more promotion of renewables
BONN, Germany, 2004-06-09 (Refocus Weekly)
Delegates from 154 countries have adopted a political declaration that calls for the promotion of renewable energies.
“Renewable energies, combined with enhanced energy efficiency, can
significantly contribute to sustainable development, to providing access to
energy, especially for the poor, to mitigating GHG emissions, reducing harmful
air pollutants, thereby creating new economic opportunities, and enhancing
energy security through cooperation and collaboration,” states the final
political declaration from the ‘Renewables 2004' conference in Germany.
Government delegates reaffirmed their “commitment to substantially increase
with a sense of urgency the global share of renewable energy in the total energy
supply.”
The nations “share the vision that renewable energies, combined with increased
energy efficiency, will become a most important and widely available source of
energy and will offer new opportunities for cooperation among all countries,”
it continues. One billion people can access modern energy services from
renewables, and the delegates agreed on the need for “coherent regulatory and
policy frameworks that support the development of thriving markets for renewable
energy technologies and recognize the important role of the private sector.”
Barriers must be removed and fair competition allowed in energy markets, with
consideration of internalizing external costs for all energy sources that are
“essential to realizing the potentials for renewable energy technologies in an
effective and efficient manner” and to creating favourable conditions for
public and private investments in renewables.
Enhanced global cooperation for capacity building and advanced policies by
Export Credit Agencies are “crucial” to expanding finance for renewables,
and financial incentives should be considered. The World Bank, regional
development banks and other international financial institutes should
“significantly expand their investments in renewables and energy efficiency
and should establish clear objectives for renewable energies in their
portfolios,” it adds.
Human and institutional capacities for renewables must be strengthened by
building capacity for policy analysis and technology assessment, strengthening
educational efforts, raising awareness of the benefits of renewables among
government decision-makers and financiers, and promoting consumer demand for
renewables.
There is need for additional targeted R&D, especially by developed
countries, with particular emphasis on reducing cost and developing innovative
financing models, to recognize that “different renewable technologies offer
different opportunities and face different constraints.”
The countries will work on the objectives contained in the ‘International
Action Program’ and through other voluntary measures, and agreed to report
their progress to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. They will set up
an informal ‘global policy network’ with stakeholders around the world to
promote a “comprehensive and open exchange of diverse perspectives, lessons,
and experiences in the development and application of renewable energies.”
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