REN21 and ICLEI announce the launch of the Local Renewables Web Portal – the gateway to information on generating and using renewable energy at the local level
Paris/Freiburg, 25 March 2010: The launch of the Local Renewables Web Portal marks the inauguration of a comprehensive collection of information and resources on renewable energy at the local level.
The Local Renewables Web Portal was commissioned by REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) and developed by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability with support from ISEP (Institute for Sustainable Energy Policy). Funding came from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through the GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit/ German Technical Cooperation).
The Portal serves local officials and users from civil society and business by highlighting local action on renewable energy and providing helpful tools for incorporating renewable energy in city energy plans. “Anyone interested in renewable energy at the local level should find answers to just about any question she or he may have,” says Virginia Sonntag-O’Brien, Head of the REN21 Secretariat in Paris.
Local governments worldwide have responded to the multiple challenges of climate change, energy security, and local economic development and revitalization by creating renewable energy policies and programmes. “With this Web Portal we want to enable local officials to learn about successful actions and help them find ways to be able to replicate them,” says Monika Zimmermann, Director of ICLEI’s International Training Center.
The Web Portal will also provide channels for people to add their own input and exchange ideas. Initiatives and organizations working on renewables at the local level will be invited to actively support the portal.
Visit the Local Renewables Web Portal at: local-renewables.org or local.ren21.net
The Local Renewables Web Portal is a one-stop shop containing policies, guidelines, technologies, information sources, events and other core sources, it has references to good local practice, to model strategies, enabling framework conditions, training opportunities and tools, as well as tips on how to become a “Local Renewables Model Community”.
Local governments can find help on integrating sustainable energy into their municipal development strategies, and other stakeholders including national governments, businesses, and NGOs can learn more about what local governments are doing to promote the uptake of renewables. Input is welcome to make it a lively, interactive platform.
The partners of the Local Renewables Web Portal seek to help enable local governments to become a driving force for innovation and investment towards a renewable energy future.
REN21 is a global policy network that provides a forum for international leadership on renewable energy to enable rapid global transition to renewable energy in developing and industrialised economies.
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is an international association of over 1100 local governments who are committed to sustainable development, and has members in 68 countries and represents the voice of 400 million citizens.
The Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP) is an independent, non-profit research organization, founded in 2000 by energy experts and climate change campaigners in Japan.
Contacts
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, International Training Centre, Local Renewables Team, phone: +49 761 368 920, email: lr.portal@iclei.org
REN21Secretariat, Rana Adib, phone: +33 1 44 37 50 96, email: rana.adib@ren21.net