Sustainable Energy was one of the topics of the 9th Special Session of the
Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United
Nations Environmental Programme (GCSS/GMEF of UNEP) in February 2006,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The
summary
of the UNEP energy programme, provided by Executive Director Klaus
Töpfer underlines UNEP's growing involvement in renewable energy and
also gives an overview of the present status of and future prospects for
renewable energy, based on the
REN21 Global Renewable Energy Status Report.
Climate change mitigation, but also energy for development and energy
security were highlighted as the most important challenges on the energy
agenda. Besides renewables - among which bio energy received most
attention - energy efficiency but also other clean energy technologies
were considered important options.
International processes and events such as WSSD, CSD, Bonn renewables
2004 Conference, as well as international initiatives and partnerships
were commended as useful. Capacity-building, technology transfer and
market mechanisms that engage the private sector were considered
instrumental in assisting and supporting developing countries in
addressing climate change. Positions were divided on how vigorously new
technologies should be implemented also in developing countries.
