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2000 Countdown to ICE-PAC This is a summary of news reports submitted to HydrogenPacific.com in 2000. It provides a synopsis of how this initiative developed. New
Report on Renewable Energy on Small Islands
Posted Saturday, 23September
, 2000 by chesher Vanuatu
Council of Ministers Resolves to attain a
100% Renewable energy economy based on hydrogen
fuels. Posted Friday,
22September , 2000 by chesher Regional Action Programme for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development 2001-2005 Posted Friday, 8September , 2000 by chesher
The
Government of Vanuatu supports the initiative
for renewable energy economies. Posted
Thursday, 10August , 2000 by chesher Government
of New Caledonia supports renewable energy
economies Posted Friday,
28July , 2000 by chesher Support
Alliance Posted Sunday,
2July , 2000 by chesher 13 June, 2000 "Just as hydrogen power may be the oil of tomorrow, that's fine, so long as it's Shell hydrogen that everyone's buying. For my part, if the world thinks that carbon dioxide emissions should be reduced, I see this as an opportunity. The Stone Age didn't end because they ran out of stones -- but as a result of competition from the bronze tools, which better met people's needs. I feel there's something in the air -- people are ready to say that this is something we should do." -- Shell Oil Chief Jeroen van der Veer to the World Petroleum Congress June 13, 2000 Shell Invests in Green Future by Todd Nogier - CANOE 7 June, 2000 Resolution on Promotion of a sustainable energy future for small island States, introduced by
ESCAP's
actions to the island States called for in the
resolution are:
The resolution stressed the need for cooperation with other agencies and divisions of ESCAP such as the Development Research and Policy Analysis Division and the ESCAP Pacific Operations Center (EPOC). 31 May, 2000 Bangkok, Thailand: Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries calls for clean and renewable energy technologies for the provision of future energy needs in the Pacific region. 30 May, 2000 Berlin, Germany "We chose Berlin as the venue for our launch to make clear to politicians that we, the industry, are ready for this, and we want them to have a clear signal that we expect them to act." Johannes Neukirchen, BMW's Berlin Director "We feel that hydrogen, generated from a renewable resource such as sunlight, is the only viable long-term solution to providing an absolutely environmentally sound fuel." Henrich Heitmann, Board Member for BMW AG "In 2010 there should be a sufficient density of hydrogen filling stations all over Europe." Burkhard Goeschel, BMW R&D head 10 May, 2000 Bangkok, Thailand: Regional Review Meeting in Preparation for the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific 8-10 May 2000 includes renewable energy, hydrogen based economies as a critical concern of the small island developing states for inclusion in the draft Regional Action Programme for environmentally sound and sustainable development, 2001-2005. April 26, 2000 Washington DC: "Clearly, the federal government should increase its support for fuel cell commercialization and for enhanced research and development." U.S. Rep. John Larson PRNewswire 22-24 April, 2000 Tokyo, Japan: At a PALM 2000 Japan-Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Right Honourable Barak T. Sope, targeted renewable energy and hydrogen power as a way to free their country from the escalating costs of petroleum. Two major studies were completed on the geothermal potential for Efate island and, combined with hydrogen power, this will form the basis of a whole new energy economy for Vanuatu. Following the PALM 2000 Meeting, the Pacific leaders met in Tokyo with electric power representatives over the issue of global warming. Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura emphasized that the high use of fossil fuels by most of the industrialized nations "is of great concern to South Pacific Forum members and an issue extremely vital to our futures." Dr. Terepai Maoate, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands said, "The continued reliance on fossil fuels is untenable. Solar, wind and other power sources hold great promise" in the Pacific. He told the Japanese experts that the Pacific Islands are available as "a good test market." Niue's Premier Sani Lakatani asked for "Japan's guidance and provision of assistance" in solving the global warming threat. 14 April, 2000 Port Vila, Vanuatu: Pacific Sub-regional Consultation Meeting in Preparation for the Ministerial Conference Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific designates renewable energy, hydrogen based economies as a key focus for the Pacific islands aimed at reducing industrial pollution of the atmosphere by providing a win-win senario for industrial countries. For the full story, visit the UN ESCAP website. 1 January 2000, Noumea, New Caledonia: The Pacific Renewable Energy France-Australia Common Endeavour (PREFACE) begins as a component of the Secretariat for the Pacific Community. "Our approach is to treat renewable energy as a tool to meet the demand for sustainable development and better living conditions rather than just as a power source for rural folks. We believe strongly that the use of renewable energy is a tool for mitigating climate change too. By using solar or wind energy instead of diesel, for example, we will help reduce the fossil-fuel emissions that hasten climate change," Solomone Fifita Coordinator. 28 September 1999, New York: The 22 special session of the UN General Assembly resolved: "Taking into account the dependency of small island developing States on conventional energy sources, there is a need for mobilization of resources from all sources, including from the private sector, for the provision of technical, financial and technological assistance, as appropriate, to small island developing States, to encourage energy efficiency and to accelerate and maximize the development and utilization of environmentally sound renewable energy sources." 25 September 1999, New York: The Third Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Alliance of Small Island States "expressed concern that adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources in support of implementation of the POA had not been provided by the international community. They also expressed concern at the overall decline in concessionary financial assistance to small island developing States, noting in particular the decline in official development assistance. They recalled that the commitment of the international community to support small island developing States made in Barbados was based on their acknowledgement that such joint action was essential for the effective implementation of the POA. They therefore called on the international community to provide funding for the full implementation of POA. They also urged developed countries to increase their ODA to meet the agreed United Nations target of 0.7% of their GNP. "The Heads of State and Government of AOSIS affirmed that the issue of climate change remained an urgent, principal concern for small island developing States. They expressed concern that unchecked climate change would have devastating effects on small island developing States, threatening the well-being and the very survival of island communities, and that these effects are being experienced at present in all regions. Climate change will further undermine the efforts of small island developing States to achieve sustainable development. They therefore asserted that global warming and sea level rise should be given higher priority by the international community. They underscored that the efforts of the developed countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases should be strengthened and accelerated. They also expressed the need for further international assistance for small island developing States to plan for longer-term adaptation to the effects of climate change. They noted that the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is a modest first step in the right direction, but that so far only small island developing States had ratified the Protocol. They therefore urgently called on Annex 1 Countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. They also undertook to continue cooperation in the search for and promotion of adaptation solutions, through the sharing of information and consultation in relevant fora." 15 September 1999, Aeroe, Denmark:The Global Conference on Renewable Energy Islands (GCREI) was attended by delegates from 34 islands and 22 national, regional and international organisations. The conference concluded:
The conference recommended: That
the following issues and concrete proposals
are National and Regional Policies: The Conference calls on all Small Island Developing States (SIDS) governments to adopt an integrated approach to renewable energy policy making and planning. Renewable Energy at Cabinet Level: All SIDS Governments should elevate renewable energy management to cabinet level. Public Awareness: Outreach initiatives should be taken to raise awareness among the public as well as political decision-makers of the critical importance of renewable energy to sustainable development. Capacity Building: Capacity building and training stressing the integral role of renewable energy should be encouraged at all levels. This includes, inter alia, training of relevance to policy development, operation and maintenance, management, and project development. Co-operation: Secretariat for Renewable Energy Islands: The Conference appeals to the Danish Government and the European Commission for assistance in setting up a secretariat on Renewable Energy Islands. The conference notes with appreciation the work of the Forum for Energy and Development (FED) and recommends that it serve as the secretariat. The proposed secretariat should work closely with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and build on existing institutional structures. The secretariat should meet the needs for intra- and inter-regional and international coordination, cooperation and information dissemination. The secretariat should prepare a strategic communication plan, incorporating SIDSnet, to educate leaders and the public at large on the merits of renewable energy and to place renewable energy on islands at the forefront of international political and public agendas. Information flows on developments in the renewable energy field should be communicated to SIDS rapidly through SIDSnet and other available means. To improve clarity on available technology, best practices and guidelines should be identified.
Market Development of Renewable Energy: Recognizing the key contributions of a dynamic private renewable energy sector, the conference calls for the establishment of an enabling policy and regulatory environment for market development of renewable energy.
Joint Ventures: Private sector development should be promoted through mutually beneficial joint ventures between developing and developed countries enterprises. Innovative Financing Mechanisms: The development and utilisation of innovative financing mechanisms such as micro-financing should be identified and supported, and the ability of islands to access available sources of funding should be improved. Clean Development Mechanism: Recognizing the outcomes of the AOSIS Workshop on Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the Marshall Islands, the conference urges that CDMs, the World Bank Carbon Fund and other instruments of the UNFCCC should be used for supporting sustainable renewable energy development on SIDS. Conference Approval of Action Plan: The conference called for a meeting within the coming year to approve the action plan and the strategies prepared by the secretariat. Next Annual Session at American Samoa: The conference notes by acclamation the generous offer of the Governor of American Samoa, the Honorable Tauese Sunia, to host the next annual session of this conference, and pledges to work together with the American Samoan Government to bring this about. FURTHER INFORMATION For more information about the conference please contact Mr. Thomas Lynge Jensen: tlj@inforse.org This News Page powered by NewsPro
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