International Conference for Renewable Energies opened

1 June 2004. Federal Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and Federal Environment Minister J�rgen Trittin today opened the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn. Until 4 June, at the invitation of Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der more than 130 ministers and 154 delegations will agree on objectives for the expansion of renewable energies. High-ranking representatives from several national and international companies, non-governmental organisations and multilateral organisations, such as the World Bank and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) are also among the delegates.

'The rising oil prices show that it is high time for a turning point in the field of energy,' said Wieczorek-Zeul at the opening ceremony. 'However, the transition can only succeed if it is global. Due to the emissions and the competition for scarce fossil resources, there can be only one shared future for all people on Earth, whether here in Germany or in China, Kenya or Brazil. We must take action now and start working on renewable energies and improved energy efficiency worldwide.' Two billion people have no access to modern energy, she continued. To overcome poverty, access to water and energy, above all, is crucial. Renewable energies, said the Minister, offer the poorer countries in the South an opportunity to replace expensive imported oil with local energy sources.

'This conference has a new approach,' said J�rgen Trittin. 'Here in Bonn, we want to integrate the voluntary initiatives to expand renewable energies with the United Nations' structures for sustainable development. Unlike the climate protection conferences, our concern here is not so much to produce declarations. renewables 2004 is all about action. We need to bring about the accelerated global expansion of renewable energies. Here in Bonn, we have to put our money where our mouths are!'
The Conference has three objectives. A joint Action Programme will be adopted in which governments describe their concrete commitments to this new energy future. Germany, too, will include its 'Leuchtturm' model projects and programmes in the Action Programme. There will also be a shared Political Declaration reflecting the attending governments' visions of a new energy future. The expected shared objective is: By 2015, one billion people are supplied with energy from renewable sources. Third, policy recommendations will be issued on how developing countries, too, can focus more on using renewable energies.

Over 3,000 delegates travelled to the Conference, among them five prime and deputy prime ministers, 98 ministers, 32 deputy ministers from a total of 154 country delegations, 33 international delegations and more than 350 international parliamentarians. For the conference programme and a list of further press events, please visit www.renewables2004.de.