Broad international support for renewables 2004
International Steering Committee discusses themes and objectives of the International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn 2004

16 December 2003. An action plan for the global expansion of renewable energies is to be adopted at the International Conference for Renewable Energies in June 2004. This was agreed by the International Steering Committee during their two days of discussions in Berlin. The members of the group - some 50 representatives of governments and international and non-governmental organisations - are therefore backing the ideas put forward by the German government for the key thematic areas and the desired outcomes of renewables 2004.

Federal Environment Minister J�rgen Trittin: "Concrete national and regional targets for the expansion of renewable energies are an important element of good political framework conditions. I am pleased that the International Steering Committee shares our view about the realistic objectives. In Germany, these find expression in the Renewable Energy Act, which lays down targets for 2010 and 2020. By establishing a clear foundation for investment in Germany, the aim is to raise the proportion of electrical power generated by renewable energies in the country from the present 8 per cent to 20 per cent by the year 2020. Other countries are also called upon to create attractive investment conditions for the benefit of their own economic and technological development, to protect the climate and to increase the prosperity of their people."

According to forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA), investment totalling US$ 500 billion is required in the energy sector every year over the next 30 years. In order to achieve a significant increase in the share of renewables, the international conference aims to take decisions on enabling political framework conditions, on the use of financial instruments tailored to needs, on education and training and on strengthening institutional capacities.

The International Conference for Renewable Energies will be held in Bonn from June 1 to 4, 2004. Representatives of the private sector and civil society can participate in renewables 2004 within the framework of the multi-stakeholder dialogue and through side events and exhibition contributions.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are organising the conference on behalf of the German government.