Press release
Friends of the Earth International
Advance Notice: MAJOR INTERNATIONAL
RENEWABLES CONFERENCE – Bonn 1-4 June
Amsterdam, June 1st – A major
international conference on renewable energy
is taking place in Bonn next week (Tuesday 1
June – Friday 4 June). The International
Renewables Conference is the most prominent
global initiative to promote renewable
energy, and the first ever inter-governmental
meeting focusing solely on this important
issue. The event will be attended by Friends
of the Earth campaigners.
The conference comes out of the 2002
Johannesburg World Summit and the promise of
the most willing countries at that meeting to
drive renewable energy forward and set
targets for renewable energy growth around
the world. Over 1,500 international
decision-makers from the fields of energy,
environment, development and planning will
debate the core challenges including the
supply and financing of energy to the poor
and conservation of the global climate.
Around 60 side events will take place
alongside the plenary sessions.
If we are to tackle climate change, global
carbon dioxide emissions must begin to
decline by 2020. One of the key measures to
achieve deep and rapid cuts in carbon dioxide
is a switch to renewable energy around the
world. This must be led by the industrialised
and major industrialising nations (such as
China and India).
Two billion people currently have no
access to energy services. Introducing clean
and affordable renewable energy services can
help alleviate poverty, reduce regional and
local air and water pollution, generate jobs
and income, empower local communities and
promote gender equity.
Friends of the Earth is campaigning for
governments and other key constituencies to
overcome the obsolete fossil-based energy
system and adopt clear, strong polices
towards renewable energy and energy
efficiency.
Friends of the Earth's International
Climate Campaigner Catherine Pearce said:
"Developing renewable energies such as
biomass, wind, tidal, solar and photo
voltaics will have wide-ranging benefits for
the entire global community. They can
contribute to security of energy supply,
reduce fuel imports and dependency, cut
greenhouse gas emissions and
improveenvironmental protection. It's time
politicians and decision-makers across the
world embraced these technologies for the
benefit of us all."
"Clean technologies and renewables must be
deployed as soon as possible. If the world is
locked into a carbon-intensive
developmentpath, the impacts will fall most
heavily on communities in fossil fuel
producing regions and those most vulnerable
to climate change. Resources and money,
particularly public funds, must be channeled
away from dirty, inefficient fossil-fuels and
towards the clean, green energy of
tomorrow".
Attracting investment from International
Financial Institutions such as the World
Bank, to develop renewables will receive
significant attention at the conference. Emil
Salim, writer of the recent World Bank's
Extractive Industries Review - which was
highly critical of current World Bank
investment in oil, mining and gas – will also
be speaking at the conference. He recommends
the Bank end support for oiland invests in
renewables instead.
Hannah Ellis, International Financial
Institutions Campaigner for Friends of the
Earth said:
"The World Bank currently invests over 80%
of its energy portfolio in fossil fuel
projects. The Extractive Industries Review
concludes that in the vast majority of cases
these projects do not alleviate poverty or
promote sustainable development. In light of
these conclusions, and the immediate need to
tackle global climate change, the World Bank
must stop lending for damaging fossil fuel
projects and help develop sustainable
renewable energy instead."
For more information contact:
Catherine Pearce, mobile 01726 299719 from
within Germany + 49 1726 299719 from outside
Germany.
Hannah Ellis: + 44 (0) 7810 558 246 (m)
Press Office: 020 7566 1649
Notes to editors:
1. The Renewables Conference will be held
in Bonn in Germany from 1-4 June 2004.
http://www.renewables2004.de/
2. From 8.30am on 2 June, Friends of the
Earth Germany, BUND will be hosting a Friends
of the Earth International action against
credits for fossil-fuel and nuclear energy in
front of the Congress-Center
with a 10 metre high inflatable Carbon
Dinosaur.
3. From 5:30pm to 7:00pm on 2 June, a
Friends of the Earth International
demonstration for renewable energy, "Here
comes the sun" will start at Rheinaue (at the
"Große Blümchenwiese"). Route follows:
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. – crossing
Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee - Sträßchensweg -
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. - Hermann-Ehlers-Str. -
conference-center (6:00 p.m.) -
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. back to the
Rheinaue.
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