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MILLENNIUM CONFERENCE
ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & CLEAN
MOBILITY
Geneva International Conference Centre
24-28 January 2000
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Conclusions of the CLEAN ENERGY 2000 Conference
The Earth's remaining fossil fuel reserves cannot fulfill the
future energy needs for sustainable development of the growing population.
The IPCC concluded that, despite the associated uncertainties,
"... the balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human
influence on global climate," and cited fossil fuel combustion as the mayor
contributor in causing the dramatic increase of CO2 above its pre-industrial
level. Avoidance of pollution while still providing energy services to everyone
is now a global task fit for international coordination and responsibilities
for every nation, the question of global warming being one topic in the context
of the larger problem of pollution.
Impacts on the environment and diminishing access possibilities
to the fossil fuel reserves require a transition from the present energy system,
based on fossil fuel technologies, to a new one, based on renewable energy sources
and environmentally appropriate technologies.
In the light of this the Conference welcomed that China and
India intend to reduce the combustion of Coal, Iceland's increased reliance
on geothermal energy and its hydrogen transport concept, Germany's and Spain's
increased use of wind power, Austria's wide use of biomass, Israel's advancing
use of solar energy, Switzerland's growing use of heat pumps and co-generation
among many other outstanding achievements in may countries around the world.
Therefore the majority of delegates of the Clean Energy Conference
2000 conclude, recommend and agree that:
- the renewable energy potential is many times larger than
the present global energy consumption and enough sustainable energy is available
at competitive cost compared with fossil and nuclear energy, so that with
these energy sources it is possible to provide stable, sustainable and clean
energy for industrialized and developing countries during this Century and
the Millennium.
- renewable energy technologies have to be introduced simultaneously
and combined with efficient energy management and technologies.
- total costing must be applied in future economics with the
intention that polluters should pay for the damage done to the society, biosphere,
climate and properties. To do so an extension is needed to existing environmental
monitoring systems - especially in the field of air pollution, climate change
and variability, erosion and water usage.
- countries should formulate targets and estimate the investment
required for the introduction of renewable energy. All countries should develop
mechanisms to mobilize more funds to implement their renewable energy programs.
- further legal mechanisms should be introduced at both national
and international levels to encourage energy efficiency and the increased
use of renewable energy.
- an amount equivalent to past annual investments in non-renewable
energy systems should now be dedicated to sustainable energy systems.
- countries should ensure the accuracy and availability of
data needed for the mapping in space and time of their renewable energy resources.
- decentralized and stand alone systems should be developed
and implemented, especially for rural and low-income areas.
- biomass is a renewable energy which in some cases is not
being replaced. This is to the detriment of the environment and energy supply.
Regeneration of the dwindling biomass reserves is needed.
- hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources is a fuel
that does not produce greenhouse gases, acid rain ingredients, ozone layer
depleting chemicals, smog, soot and aerosols. Therefore the use of hydrogen
fuel should be encouraged.
- to use more complete energy and traffic forecasting methods,
to include them in the future ISO Energy Systems Standards series; to use
them in IEA, UN and Government statistics and for energy planning.
- spillage from tankers has to be reduced to a minimum to avoid
damage to the environment.
Geneva, 2000-01-28
Cercle mondial du consensus, World Circle of the Consensus,
Weltkreis des Konsens
World Sustainable Energy Coalition
CMDC-WSEC, rue de Varembé 3, POB 200, CH 1211 Geneva
20, Switzerland
Phone: +41-22-910-3006, Fax: +41-22-910-3014, e-mail:
info@cmdc.net