Conference calls for global action
By Xiao Fuyu (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-08 05:50

Participants urged governments to speed up the use and expansion of renewable energy by making a public joint declaration at the 2005 Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference, which opened yesterday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

"We urge the governments to go beyond the Bonn Declaration and to acknowledge that renewable energy and energy efficiency are the most important energy strategies in the 21st century," the declaration stated.

Civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 12 countries, 52 organizations and 87 representatives participated in the conference, which attracted a total of 1,200 representatives.

President Hu Jintao also delivered congratulatory messages in response to the opening of the two-day event.

Hu said the conference is expected to work as a platform "for China to learn experiences of all countries in utilizing renewable energy," and help the country map out its national strategies in the efforts.

The NGOs, including the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, and the China Association of NGO Co-operation (CANGOC), also said the governments have the responsibility to ensure the rapid market development of renewable energy both in rural and urban areas with incentive mechanisms in place.

"NGOs are an informed, skilled and equal participant in both the global and national efforts to achieve the goals in utilizing renewable energy," said Huang Haoming from CANGOC.

(China Daily 11/08/2005 page2)