Bonn International Action Programme Follow Up Shows Unbroken Worldwide Dynamic For Renewable Energy Advancement
8 May 2006 - NEW YORK: REN21 releases Interim Report at UN CSD 14:
Stakeholders who have put forth "Actions" at the International
Conference for Renewable Energies ("renewables 2004") are keeping their
commitments. This is the encouraging finding of a Report released in New
York today by REN21, the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st
Century.
Almost two years after the renewables 2004 conference - convened in Bonn
by the German Ministries for Environment and for Economic Cooperation in
June 2004 - REN21 is following up on the implementation of the
International Action Programme (IAP). Brought together by dedicated
conference participants from diverse stakeholders groups, the IAP is a
rich set of 197 concrete activities for the expansion of renewable
energy. The contributions range from concrete expansion commitments and
changes in policy frameworks to the intensification of financing,
research and development.
REN21's first interim report on the IAP comes timely for the fourteenth
session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14), taking
place at the UN Headquarters in New York from 1 to 12 May 2006.
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Steve Sawyer of Greenpeace presented the REN21 Interim Report at the Partnership Fair of CSD-14 at the UN headquarters on 4 May.
German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Development Minister
Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul thanked all the Partners who have already
responded to the IAP follow-up-call that they had issued in March.
Mohammed El Ashry, the newly elected Chairman of the REN21 Steering
Committee, said:
"This first-ever international monitoring of voluntary renewable energy
commitments is highly important in order to highlight the implementation
of actions and seek remedy for those actions which are delayed. This
makes international policy processes more effective and credible."
After one month of effective reporting, the Paris-based Secretariat of
REN21 has received feedback on over 80 Actions in the IAP, relatively
evenly distributed over all the categories and types of Actions.
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Paul Suding, Head of REN21 Secretariat, presented the follow-up of the International Action Programme at the JREC Senior Officials Meeting on 8 May.
The reports received are very encouraging, as 75% of the Actions
committed and reported upon are currently being implemented or have been
completed already. Only 2% have been abandoned.
- Successful implementation could often be reported for national
renewable energy policies. China, Japan, France, the UK and Northern
Ireland as well as Australia report recent implementation of policy
Actions including targets. Pacific Islands, Ethiopia, Uganda, Iran,
Turkey, Germany are reporting other type of recent policies
measures. Other countries such as Pakistan report on comprehensive
programmes promoting renewables.
- A number of high-impact Actions have advanced significantly.
Prominent examples are some of the policies and programmes already
mentioned. Other important programmes are being implemented by
bilateral and multilateral financing institutions and also by
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Some actors like Brazilian
and Mexican partners have announced their reports on important
actions.
- The "lack of funds" cited as the main impediment to
implementation of IAP Actions, is increasingly being addressed by
multilateral and bilateral development agencies and international
financing mechanisms. These reports show that almost all of the
committed funding mechanisms have successfully been set up. Potent
examples for such Actions are the activities of the European
Investment Bank and the German KfW. The World Bank Group reports
significant loan approvals.
The IAP follow up is a case-based and bottom-up complement to the
global overview provided by REN21's Global Status Report. In effect the
Interim IAP Report confirms the impression of a currently strong
momentum in renewable energy development.
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Ibrahim Togola presented the Interim Report at a side event with German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Egyptian Energy Minister Hassan Ahmed Younis on 10 May 2006
It is increasingly understood, that policy action is required to
promote renewable energy.
According to the report, international renewable energy collaboration
acts as vital catalyst in promoting renewable energy technologies and
policies, by allowing for more efficient and coordinated use of human,
financial resources and information. But the international policy
process cannot be become effective for renewable energy progress by
itself. It accomplishes its purpose only when it leads to national
policies, which then frame the development of renewable energies.
REN21 and its participants offer support in shaping such policies. Based
on sound reasoning and the exchange of information on proven successes,
REN21 supports the creation of appropriate frameworks in those countries
which do not have such policies yet.