The first regional preparatory conference for renewables 2004 was held in Brasilia on 29 and 30 October. Representatives from 20 Latin American countries met at the invitation of the Brazilian Government. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Organizaci�n Latinoamericana de Energ�a (OLADE) , International Energie Agency (IEA), the European Commission, and regional non-governmental organisations.

One important outcome of the meeting was the declaration of the "Brasilia Platform on Renewable Energies". In this, the countries of Latin America stress the goal of covering ten per cent of the region's total energy consumption through renewable energies by the year 2010. They also reaffirm their intention of specifying an effective regulatory framework in each country and call for the creation of new financing models. In the declaration, ECLAC is tasked with providing further hands-on support for the preparations for renewables 2004.

Brazil's Minister for the Environment, Marina Silva, with Germany's Minister for the Environment, J�rgen Trittin in Brasilia

The chances of achieving sustainable development by extending renewable energies were acknowledged by all participants and impressively underscored by the Brazilian commitment. International cooperation can play an important role in the development of national policies to promote renewable energies.

In his speech to the Conference participants, J�rgen Trittin, Germany's Minister for the Environment and head of the German delegation, welcomed Brazil's initiative of contributing to the success of renewables 2004 by holding this regional conference. "This gives the necessary political thrust to the consolidation of renewable energies in Latin America and the Caribbean." In common with other speakers, he emphasised that renewable energies are crucial for both poverty reduction and climate protection.

Download the text of the "Brasilia Platform" declaration as pdf: platform_declaration.pdf