It is evident that the topic of "energy" has gradually moved over the last decades to the top of the international political agenda. Renewable energy, in particular, has received high attention as a potential win-win option in both the environment and development arenas. Its position has been significantly strengthened lately by increased geopolitical concerns about the security of energy supplies and the related increase in oil prices to some of their highest historical levels.

The UN programmes, conventions and processes most concerned are UNEP and UNFCCC (focussing on environment and particularly climate change), UNDP, World Bank, and the UN Summits of 2000 (Millennium Summit) and 2005 (World Summit) (focussing on development), as well as the 'Rio Process' with WSSD and CSD, in which environment and development issues are dealt with in combination, and the GEF as the specialised fund.

These issues are also taken on by the Gleneagles Dialogue in the G8 process, in which, apart from the G8 countries, large developing countries are taking part, and to which World Bank, IEA as well as the UK Treasury (Stern Review) are contributing.

In addition, the renewables 2004 Conference in Bonn, the BIREC 2005 Conference in Beijing and the 2008 Washington International Renewable Energy Conference represent special International Renewable Energy Conferences outside of the UN system.

Recommended Reading:

International Institutional Arrangements in Support of Renewable Energy, by Achim Steiner, Thomas Wälde, Adrian Bradbrook and Frederik Schutyser
(provided through kind permission by Earthscan)

The Multifaceted Institutional Landscape and Processes of International Renewable Energy Policy, by Paul Suding and Philippe Lempp, published in the Newsletter for the International Association of Energy Economists