ENERGY EFFICIENCY SHOULD BE CENTRE OF ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, COMMITTEE ON NEW AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY TOLD

13 February 1996

Press Release
EN/230

ENERGY EFFICIENCY SHOULD BE CENTRE OF ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, COMMITTEE ON NEW AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY TOLD

19960213 Paper Presented on 'Energy and Sustainable Development'; World Solar Summit to Be Held in Harare, Zimbabwe, September 1996

Sustainable development policies should place energy efficiency and improvement at the centre of economic and environmental planning, the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development was told this morning, as it continued its discussion of energy and sustainable development. Also this morning, it was announced that a world solar summit would be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in September 1996.

During its consideration of energy and sustainable development, Ernst Worrell, expert from Netherlands, presented a paper entitled "Energy and Sustainable Development -- Efficient Use of Energy and Materials; Progress and Policies". Mr. Worrell said that energy efficiency facilitated the introduction of renewable energy and "buys time" for the development of low- cost renewable sources. Energy efficiency, however, did not generally receive the attention commensurate with the role it needed to play in developing an environmentally-sustainable society. Energy and material efficiency could create large energy savings, which could in turn change unsustainable consumption patterns.

Mr. Worrell said that over the past decades three factors had played a role in the considerable improvement of energy efficiency: increasing energy prices (except for the past five to 10 years); energy policies aimed at promoting efficiency; and technological developments. Barriers to improved energy efficiency included an unwillingness to invest, a lack of information, economic disincentives and organizational barriers. Policy instruments that could improve energy efficiency included regulation and product standards, economic incentives, information, education and research and development. International cooperation would be necessary, especially in light of the increased demand expected in developing countries.

In approaching those challenges, he recommended increased international cooperation, training and capacity-building, increased access to information

and investments, comprehensive policy planning and the development of a new regulatory, legal and market framework. The United Nations could play a vital role in the transition to more sustainable development with training and information dissemination in developing countries, harmonization of analysis and testing, and by redirecting international capital spending in line with environmentally sustainable policy recommendations.

Announcing the World Solar Summit, Alfatih I. Hama, a representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said that preparations for the summit were being overseen by a world solar commission, chaired by President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and composed of 15 members at the level of heads of State and government serving in their personal capacities. The objective of the summit would be the launching of a world solar program 1996-2005 consisting of a plan of action and selected projects. For the purposes of the summit, the term "solar energy" would embrace all forms of renewable energy including biomass, geothermal, hydro, ocean thermal, solar electricity and wind.

Continuing, he said that UNESCO's General Conference, at its twenty- eighth session in October and November 1995, had identified the world solar programme as a means of promoting greater use of renewable and non-polluting energies. It had requested that priority be given to the programme in UNESCO's 1996-2007 medium-term strategy. The United Nations Secretary-General had, in a letter to the UNESCO Director-General, welcomed the programme as a United Nations system-wide effort. A meeting of an ad hoc inter-agency task force at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris last month had agreed that all relevant specialized agencies and United Nations programmes would contribute to the implementation of the world solar program.

Mr. Hama said a series of regional technical meetings and ministerial- level meetings had been organized in all regions to identify regional experiences and priorities. He reiterated UNESCO's invitation to the Committee to associate itself with the world solar programme and to consider the results of the solar summit at its next session.

Commenting on the solar summit, experts requested information on the composition of the commission and the understanding with regard to coordination between the summit organizers and the United Nations system. One expert asked if the commission had been approved by the United Nations. Another expert asked whether the commission was a new body, noting that a similar commission on solar energy already existed. The expert from the Russian Federation told the Committee that a regional preparatory conference for the solar summit would take place in Moscow next July.

Other Committee experts requested information on: the financial aspects of the programme envisaged by the solar summit; whether the summit would concentrate on research and development or on education; and United Nations

Energy Committee - 3 - Press Release EN/230 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 February 1996

system support for the summit. One expert said that he had detected a lack of interest by developed countries and feared the summit could turn out to be a gathering of only developing countries. Renewable energy should be of interest to both North and South, he said.

Lars Olsson, of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the summit had been approved by the UNESCO General Conference and that some organizational structures had been established. The WMO would provide inputs regarding climate, he said.

Leonard Bennett, of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that according to figures he had seen, programmes envisaged by the solar summit could cost hundreds of millions of dollars over a decade. Some 40 heads of State or government might participate at the summit.

In response to experts' questions, the representative of UNESCO said he would seek answers from his headquarters and would report back to the Committee.

Participating in today's discussion were experts from France, Germany, Russian Federation, India, Austria, Italy and China.

When it meets again at 3 p.m. today, the Committee will consider questions on the energy efficiency paper.

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