PRESS RELEASE INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY NGO RENEWABLE ENERGY SUMMIT May 20-21, 1994 New York, USA Issues of Land Utilisation From 20-21 May 1994 the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) from around the world met in New York to discuss issues of sustainable development and the interlinkages to renewable energy technologies. This activity was co-ordinated by the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), and sponsored by a number of organisations, such as the International Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation, the Swedish International Development Authority, United States Agency for International Development, US Department of Energy and the World Resources Institute. The NGO Renewable Energy Summit is part of the International Solar Energy Society's ISES 2000 Initiative. The main objectives of this Initiative are to: Influence the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) to more seriously address the impact of energy use within the context of the CSD agenda. Raise awareness amongst the NGO community and governments about the benefits and potentials of renewable energy technologies, and how they can operate to assist in programme delivery for national and global issues of sustainable population growth. The ISES NGO Summit drew attention to the critically important connections between renewable energy and sustainable development. In doing so, it built upon the extensive knowledge and experience which major NGOs from around the world bring to the environmental and development issues central to the CSD and Agenda 21. The issues discussed were not solely renewable energy, but also on the issues of land utilisation which impact upon energy requirements and are impacted upon by the supply of energy. Ms. Carol Sherman, of Aid Watch, said `When people lose their land, they lose their livelihood and their culture. The land is not replaceable for local peoples at all. The large, centralised power projects planned for and implemented in developing countries to date tend to displace people and destroy their culture, livelihood and habitat, rather than improving their quality of life.' `The areas occupied to generate power by means of hydro is usually ten times more than by means of solar energy', said Erik Lysen, NOVEM, The Netherlands. `By putting PV [solar electric panels] on rooftops, we can make use of existing space and bring power to where it is needed.' This means that only land already utilised by buildings will be used to generate electricity, rather than requiring large tracts of land as today's fossil fuel and nuclear generators do. Between 1979-83 450,000 people were relocated, and 300,000 more moved in the subsequent 2 years due to World Bank projects alone. In his address to the Summit, Dr. K Topfer, Minister for the Environment in Germany and new Chairperson for the CSD stated `We are separating ourselves from nature and this is always combined with intensively using energy. Rio created a new spirit of partnership in this world, but we must realise that sustainable development is first of all linked with the developed countries.' Solar energy systems are sustainable in terms of the environment and land utilisation, usually available locally and able to supply local populations with enough power to improve quality standards for the population. However, between 1980 and 1990 the World Bank invested only 1% of its funds for renewables. Commenting in the Opening Address, Christine Ervin, Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, United States Department of Energy stated ` using renewable energy is analogous to the practice of living off the Earth's interest rather than the capital.' Participating NGOs on issues of land utilisation, Aid Watch (Australia), International Organisation for Migration (Switzerland), Worldwatch Institute (USA), Earth Savers Population Communications International (Philippines), Centre for Advanced Studies (Bangladesh), Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement (Sri Lanka), President's Council on Sustainable Development (USA), Earth Savers Population Communications International (Philippines) FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jenniy Gregory, ISES, UK: Tel. 44-734-73 0073, Fax. 44-734-730820 National Section, ISES, NOTES: 1. The International Solar Energy Society (ISES) was formed in 1954, as a non-profit organisation, to provide a forum for scientific exchange in the field of solar energy. It is an accredited Non-Government Organisation (NGO) with the United Nations Economic & Social Committee (ECOSOC), and is widely regarded as the foremost global organisation promoting the development and utilization of renewable energies. ISES is now active in over 105 countries world-wide. Its membership includes eminent scientists and researchers, plus many other professionals who are active within the field of renewable energies. It also has members from industry and other private and public organisations. 2. The NGO Renewable Energy Summit was the first in a series of events which are aimed to impact upon the CSD and national governments. Through ISES's new regional offices, further conferences are planned for South Africa, Europe (Greece) and South America (Argentina). These conferences will draw from the conclusions and insights emerging from the NGO Summit in order to identify actions of regional consequence. 3. Technologies which are directly or indirectly fuelled by the sun and which minimise the consequences of energy use can provide sustainable solutions for the supply of energy in both industrialised and developing countries. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies have many applications world-wide, and provide an immediate and sustainable way of providing power for uses such as telecommunications, homes, hospitals and health centres in developing countries. Solar drying techniques can be used to dry fruit and vegetables. Solar stills provide fresh water. Solar cookers do not emit pollution or contribute to forest degradation. Clean solar systems can be designed to contribute to the electricity grid (such as PV architecturally integrated into buildings; large centralised solar power stations; landfill gasifiers), power electric vehicles; and provide heat for industrial and domestic applications. In all regions, solar architecture can provide comfortable buildings which are inexpensive to heat and cool and which are comfortable to live and/or work in. 4. The ISES 2000 Initiative, Initiatives of ISES & Recommendations to the CSD is available upon request. Photographs and slides of renewable energy technologies are also available. 5. ISES does not consider large scale hydro-electric power plants to be sustainable or renewable, as they take up vast amounts of land, often displace local peoples, destroy the local environment and effect ecological changes in the land around them and downstream.