Trittin: Europe sets the pace for renewable energies
Berlin conference sends a signal for the global increase in renewable energies

15 January 2004. Federal Environment Minister J�rgen Trittin has described the outcome of the European conference for renewable energies, which concluded in Berlin today, as a "clear signal for the global increase in renewable energies." He went on to emphasise that "we Europeans have made clear that we want to be initiators, pioneers and the driving force for the global increase in renewable energies." The conference, which was organised by the EU Commission, was one of several regional preparatory stages leading to the International Conference for Renewable Energies (renewables2004), which will be held in Bonn from 1 to 4 June 2004.

In the concluding recommendations of the conference, the EU is called on to set an ambitious target for the increased use of renewables up to 2020. By 2020, the share of renewables in EU energy consumption could be increased to 20 per cent. "Ambitious and serious targets are essential for maintaining and strengthening the existing dynamics in the increase in the use of renewables in Europe," stated Minister Trittin.

The conference also highlighted the importance of the legal framework and of long-term calculable support for the introduction of renewable energies. Minister Trittin emphasised that "this is a key issue for the move from theory to practice. With our cost-based feed-in model as a foundation of the Renewable Energy Sources Act, we in Germany have a modern instrument for the market launch of future-oriented technologies. There is a growing number of advocates for this model throughout Europe."

With the conclusion of the Berlin preparatory conference, Minister Trittin sees a further strengthening of the impetus launched at the Latin-American preparatory conference in Brazil. Corresponding conferences are due to be held in the Asian-Pacific region (Bangkok 25/26 March) and in the Middle East (Sana'a, end of April). "The massive increase in the use of renewable energies is a key element of the global battle against climate change. The goal of renewables2004 is to lay this down in an international framework," explained Minister Trittin.

In June 2004, more than 1,000 participants from all over the world are expected in Bonn. Governments, international organisations, private companies and non-governmental organisations will negotiate on how the use of renewable energies can be increased in developing and developed countries. The conference aims to produce a substantial action plan, summarising the commitments and actions of all stakeholders.

renewables 2004 will show that the increase in the use of renewable energies is a win-win strategy for everybody involved: More solar energy, more wind energy, hydropower and thermal energy coupled with higher energy efficiency will help solve the problems of the future.