SECOND SESSION OF COMMITTEE ON NEW AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY AT HEADQUARTERS, 12-22 FEBRUARY

9 February 1996

Press Release
EN/227

SECOND SESSION OF COMMITTEE ON NEW AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY AT HEADQUARTERS, 12-22 FEBRUARY

19960209 Background Release Impacts of Energy Use on Atmosphere, Potential of Biomass among Topics to Be Discussed

Impacts of energy use on the atmosphere and the potential of biomass are among topics to be discussed by the expert Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development, at its second regular session at Headquarters starting on Monday, 12 February.

Other issues the Committee will consider -- all relating to energy and sustainable development -- include efficient use of energy and materials and energy exploration in the developing countries. The activities of the United Nations system in that sector will also be examined. The conclusions and recommendations of the government-nominated experts, elected by the Economic and Social Council, will be considered by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its meeting in April.

A number of reports of the Secretary-General examines the various issues before the Committee, which meets once in two years. According to one document, fossil fuels will continue to dominate the energy needs of both developed and developing countries well into the next century. Developing countries, already burdened by high oil import bills, will continue to face difficulties in mobilizing capital to meet their energy requirements. Significant research and development will be required to realize the enormous potential of renewable energy technologies in developing countries.

Biomass has untapped potential from which much more useful energy could be economically derived. When produced in an efficient and sustainable manner, biomass has numerous environmental and social benefits, including job creation, provision of energy to rural communities of developing countries, improved land management and a reduction of carbon dioxide and sulphur levels in the atmosphere.

Large potentials also exist for energy savings through energy and material efficiency improvements. Successful policies to achieve them include efficiency standards and codes, technology development, and partnerships between utility operators and Governments. Improved international cooperation to develop policy instruments and technologies to meet the needs of developing

countries will be necessary. Education, training and information transfer on the national and international levels are recommended, as are the establishment of comprehensive policy plans defining energy and material efficiency goals with clear targets.

Issues relating to the protection of the atmosphere from the effects of human energy use are addressed in a document which also analyses prevailing trends in energy use and possible impacts on the atmosphere. It suggests strategies for mitigating and avoiding adverse impacts of possible climate change, and also assesses policy measures for the protection of the atmosphere within the context of sustainable development.

Many entities within the United Nations system are active in a variety of projects and programmes in the field of energy. Most of the projects are devised to assist specific countries -- mainly developing and, more recently, economies in transition -- to meet their energy objectives. Other activities reflect the changing energy situation and emerging issues, such as increased concern about environmental impact of the development and use of energy resources. A significant number of programmes are to be found in education and training, generation of awareness and capacity building.

A report on follow-up activities since the first and special sessions of the Committee, in 1994 and 1995, respectively, notes that its recommendations and suggestions were considered by the Economic and Social Council and by an ad hoc inter-sessional working group on sectoral issues of the Commission on Sustainable Development and by the Commission itself. An international seminar which took place in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 13 to 17 November 1995, also made a number of recommendations on changing the scale and pace of decentralized rural electrification. The Committee is expected to consider the seminar's report and, in turn, make specific recommendations for action by the Commission on Sustainable Development and by the Economic and Social Council.

Membership

Established by General Assembly resolution 46/235 as part of the restructuring and reorganization of the Economic and Social Council, the Committee has taken over energy questions formerly handled by the Committee on Natural Resources. It also addresses issues contained in Agenda 21, adopted at the 1992 Rio United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, pertaining to energy and related programmes and activities. Its members serve for a four-year term. The resolution establishing the Committee provided for 24 members. At present, the Committee has 20 members.

Members of the Committee are: Marcelino K. Actouka (Federated States of Micronesia); Mohammad Al Ramadhan (Kuwait); Christian Aatoki Ileka (Zaire); Messaoud Boumaour (Algeria); Jose Luis Bozzo (Uruguay); Bernard Devin

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(France); Paul-Georg Gutermuth (Germany); Wolfgang Hein (Austria); Virgil Musatescu (Romania); Valeri Andreev Nikov (Bulgaria); Ziolo Rodas Rodas (Paraguay); Juan Camilo Restrepo Salazar (Colombia); Mohammed Salem Sarur Al- Sabban (Saudi Arabia); E.V.R.Sastry (India); Mohamed M. Shawkat (Egypt); Wilhelmus C. Turkenburg (Netherlands); William Sebastiao Penido Vale (Brazil); Dmitri B. Volfberg (Russian Federation); Zhang Goucheng (China); and William Michael Mebane (Italy).

The officers of the Committee are: Mr. Shawkat (Egypt), Chairman; Mr. Zhang (China) and Mr. Rodas (Paraguay), Vice-Chairmen; and Mr. Musatescu (Romania), Rapporteur.

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