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News
REN21 Releases Report on Renewable Energy for Poverty Alleviation
15 September 2005

New York -- The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) today released its report, "Energy for Development: The Potential Role of Renewable Energy in Meeting the Millennium Development Goals," in conjunction with the 2005 World Summit at the United Nations. The report, produced and published by the Worldwatch Institute, brings together the expertise of the participants of REN 21, which provides a forum for international leadership on renewable energy and connects the wide variety of stakeholders that came together at the Bonn International Conference for Renewable Energies in 2004.

Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), joined the Worldwatch Institute in UNEP's Green Room to discuss the report's findings with attendants of the UN Summit. "Delivering clean, efficient, reliable and renewable energy to developing countries is absolutely critical for poverty reduction and for meeting the internationally agreed development goals," he said. "Every time oil surges over $50 a barrel, the overseas aid of many African countries--money intended for health care, schools and other vital services--is gobbled up in paying the extra fuel costs. It is also vital because, over the next few decades, the world is likely to invest some 16 trillion dollars in new energy infrastructure. We need to ensure that this is low carbon technology that gives us a better chance to fight climate change," said Dr. Toepfer.

The report identifies renewable energy options that are currently in wide use in some regions and that are now ready for large-scale introduction in many areas of the developing world. Through 26 case studies, the report cites biogas, small hydro, solar, wind, ethanol, and biodiesel, among other technologies, as viable options for poverty alleviation in developing countries.

As their cost has declined and their reliability has improved, renewable energy technologies have often emerged as more affordable and practical means of providing essential energy services. Although the strongest renewable energy growth has been in grid-connected power systems and liquid fuels for transportation, several technologies are well-suited to providing modern energy services for low-income people. Scaling up a broad portfolio of renewable energy options can make a major contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, concludes the report.

The creation of REN21 was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Formally established in Copenhagen in June 2005, REN21 is now supported by a steering committee of 11 governments, five intergovernmental organizations, five non-governmental organizations, and several regional, local and private organizations.

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09 August 2010
Delhi International Action Programme

REN21 launches the Delhi International Action Programme in conjunction with the Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC 2010) to encourage governments and all stakeholders to pledge voluntary actions towards advancing renewable energy deployment and policy development.

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24 June 2010
What are your information needs?
Reegle.info, the specialist search engine for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, started 5 years ago. Participate in the survey to guide its future development.

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21 June 2010
Selection Guidelines for Hosting an International Renewable Energy Conference (IREC) (revised version)
A set of simple guidelines for the selection of the host of the International Renewable Energy Conference (IREC) has been agreed by the REN21 Bureau. To date, one country has submitted a formal application to host the IREC 2012. The Bureau will decide by 15 July 2010, on a “no objection” basis, on the host of the IREC 2012.

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19 May 2010
Global Wind Day 2010

The Global Wind Day 2010 takes place on 15 June all over the world.

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