Renewable Energy to be Developed Worldwide
International Steering Committee sets the course for Bonn conference

13 June, 2003. At the International Conference for Renewable Energies in June 2004 in Bonn, an action plan is to be adopted for the worldwide development of renewable energy. This was agreed by the International Steering Committee at its two-day meeting in Bonn. This preparatory committee, convening for the first time, consists of 50 representatives of industrialized and developing countries as well as international and non-governmental organisations. German Environment Minister J�rgen Trittin and State Secretary Erich Stather of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development welcomed the results of the preparatory meeting and thanked the committee members for supporting the German government in preparing the conference.

Environment Minister Trittin: "I am happy that the International Steering Committee is in accord with our concept for setting national and regional goals worldwide for expanding the use of renewable energy. We in Germany have created enabling framework conditions, including the Renewable Energies Act, which has set off a boom in renewables. Other countries, too, must shape the basic conditions for development of renewable energy and remove the many barriers holding it back. Renewable energy brings multiple gains: it protects the climate, reduces poverty and promotes technological and economic development."

State Secretary Stather: "About one-third of humanity has no access to commercial energy. Particularly for developing countries, the expansion of renewable energy offers a way to overcome this energy poverty, while at the same time reducing their dependence on expensive oil imports. The great potential of sun, wind and water power must be exploited. The conference will help to pave the way for this."

The International Conference for Renewable Energies is to be held in Bonn from June 1 to 4, 2004. The action plan to be adopted is to include concepts for financing, among them the mobilization of private capital and creation of an investment environment.