The International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn (1-4
June 2004)
Philippe Simonis
Energy Advisor, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD)
This conference was a commitment of the German chancellor during the World Summit on
Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.
The objective was to prepare the ground for a global expansion of renewable energies,
integrated into a broader strategy to create a highly efficient and sustainable energy future.
The German federal ministry for economic cooperation and development (BMZ) and the federal
ministry for environment (BMU) convened this conference while 'German Technical Cooperation'
(GTZ) organized the conference on behalf of the two ministries.
The conference and the side events were attended by 1000 delegates, observers and
journalists, 3,000 people all together. Ministers and government representatives from 154
countries participated.
The outputs of the conference are:
- An International Action Programme (IAP) containing more than 160 concrete actions and
commitments by governments and other organizations and actors;
- A political declaration;
- Policy recommendations for renewable energies.
All the documents are available on website
www.renewables2004.de
. For example, World Bank committed itself to a target of at least 20% average
growth annually in both renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE commitments over the
next five years. The German Chancellor committed Euro 500 million for Renewable Energy worldwide.
On the 2nd June the international parliamentary forum adopted a strong resolution
supporting RE. It is also important to mention the strong involvement of the city of Bonn in
the conference. The town organized a lot of events for the local population and schools.
Uganda was represented at the conference by the Minister of Energy and Mineral
Development, Hon. Syda Bbumba accompanied by the Commissioner for Energy, the Executive
Director of the Rural Electrification Agency and the GTZ Energy Advisor. Two colleagues from
MEMD supported the exhibition. Before and after the conference, the Hon. Syda Bbumba
organized with the German embassy and GTZ press conferences in Kampala.
Uganda was very active during the conference in Bonn.
Just to highlight a few actions, I would like to mention the following:
- Uganda had a permanent exhibition during the all week. This exhibition was
presenting Uganda as the pearl of renewable energy, explaining the reform process in
the energy sector, the potential of renewables and a few success stories. An energy
investment guide has also been launched and largely distributed.
- Uganda also organized a side event to present similar topics and share our
experience with others. The minister participated as panelist in 2 side events
organized by GTZ and Energia, a non-governmental organisation, on different topics,
such as renewables and poverty eradication, and, gender aspects.
|
A Thought for
Environmental Preservation . . .
|
|
Our urgent need to protect the environment calls for
the participation of all. Both technologically advanced states and other
categories bear collective responsibilities in ensuring better and more
efficient use the various forms of energy in use today, and wider
adoption and share of renewable forms that will ensure better
sustainability and a safer place for future generations.
|
