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Bonn, 4. Juni 2004
CURES Citizens United for Renewable Energy
and Sustainability
The NGO Network at the Bonn International Conference for Renewable Energies.
Governments Agree the Future is Renewable:
NGO's Call for Action on Rhetoric
Vision -> Objective -> Plan -> Implementation
-> Reality
Bonn: 4th June 2004: New renewable energy
and energy efficiency were recognised by the International Conference
on Renewable Energies as holding the key to providing safe and affordable
energy services to those that have none, supplying future global energy
needs, and decreasing the threat of disaster from climate change.
Reduction of inequality and universal access
to adequate energy services, preventing the dangers of climate change,
reversing environmental degradation, creation of jobs and sustainable
livelihoods are our overriding objectives. New renewables, often decentralised
and small scale, coupled with an end to policies that promote wasteful
energy consumption, are essential to achieve these objectives.
At the conference Governments, industries and Non-Government Organisations,
announced important commitments to the increased use of new renewable
energy. Over 180 submissions were made as part of an International Programme
of Action. While many are existing projects, vague programmes, or proposals
seeking funding, some are new initiatives that will make improvements
to the environment and lives of people in the South and North. The most
significant include a programme for a dramatic increase in renewable energy
use in China; the doubling of new renewable energy use in the Philippines;
providing greater sustainable energy services in Africa; and increased
use of offshore wind power in Europe. These initiatives must be evaluated
according to their social and environmental impacts and their compatibility
with sustainable development.
'The outcome of this conference will not
be judged on its paper mandates, but on how it increases the use of new
renewables. New plans and actions have been pledged to make this happen
and NGOs will work with willing partners to monitor, strengthen and accelerate
them'.
NGOs are calling upon Governments to act
on their rhetoric and remove the preferential treatment given to conventional
energies such as the failure to account for their full environment and
social impacts. NGOs further demand that International Financial Institutions
(IFIs) and Regional Development Banks fulfil the requirements of the Political
Declaration to 'significantly expand their investments in renewables and
energy efficiency' as the proposals presented at the Conference by the
World Bank are totally inadequate.
'Some Governments are reluctant to change
their energy practises and policies, but they are fast losing public support
and unless they reform they will be phased-out just like the fossil and
nuclear fuels they support and use'.
For more information contact:
Jürgen Maier, German Forum for Environment
and Development: 00 49 171 383 6135
Martin Hiller, WWF: 00 41 793472256
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth: 00 49 1726 299719
Susan Cavanagh: Greenpeace: 00 31 6 21296910
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