A: One of the major accomplishments of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, was the recognition that renewable energy is a critical component of sustainable development, energy security, climate change, and air quality. Worldwide enthusiasm for renewable energy has increased dramatically since WSSD, both multilaterally (e.g., 2004 Bonn Renewable Energy Conference, 2005 Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference, G-8, etc.), bilaterally, and nationally. Nations now more fully recognize the imperative to promote widespread adoption of renewable energy, such as biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro energies, into their countries' energy mix to promote sustained economic growth, social development, and environmental stewardship.
2. Who should attend WIREC 2008?
A: Senior-level representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of government at the national and subnational level, international organizations, the finance and business community, and civil society who are working to advance the integration of renewable energy in their countries.
3. WIREC 2008 consists of multiple events: a global ministerial-level meeting, the Trade Show at WIREC 2008 and business conference, and official side events. What is the relationship between them?
A: WIREC's three components are interrelated: The ministerial-level meetings will have an agenda that ensures time for networking and for participants to tour the separately managed, but co-located, trade show and business conference.
Registered trade show and/or ministerial-level meeting participants will be able to reserve rooms and attend WIREC's official side events. A portion of the trade show/business conference attendees will be official delegates to the ministerial-level meeting, and will be allowed to attend certain plenary sessions. WIREC 2008 organizers will create a badging system that will clearly identify which sessions participants can attend.
4. How do I register to attend WIREC 2008?
A: If you have received an invitation to the Ministerial meeting, please visit our Registration page and select the first link to register for the Ministerial conference. Please note that registration for the Ministerial conference includes registration for the industry organized events including the Trade Show at WIREC 2008, the Business Conference, and the Official Side Events. If you have not received an invitation to the Ministerial conference and would like to register for the Trade Show at WIREC 2008, the Business Conference, or the Official Side Events, please visit http://www.americanrenewables.org/ for registration information.
5. What are the Official Side Events at WIREC 2008, and how can I take part in them?
A: WIREC 2008 Official Side Events offer a unique chance for the world community to discuss the opportunities and challenges of a major, rapid, global scale-up of renewable energy and advance the goals of energy security, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
WIREC 2008 Official Side Events are a forum for non-governmental, governmental, and/or inter-governmental partners to showcase their projects/programs in front of a high level public and private sector audience.
A: WIREC will advance energy security, climate change, air quality, and sustainable development goals by producing the following outcomes:
Political Support and Public Awareness: WIREC will showcase broad, high-level commitment for deployment of renewable energy technologies as a key strategy for dealing with energy security, climate change, air quality, and sustainable development. This includes broader market opportunities for agricultural producers and wealth creation in the rural sector worldwide.
New and Strengthened Actions: WIREC will serve as a showcase and launching pad for concrete initiatives undertaken by the public and private sectors to promote widespread adoption of cost-effective renewable energy technologies. Building on the hundreds of practical initiatives in the Bonn International Action Plan and United Nations (U.N.) database of Partnerships for Sustainable Development, WIREC can continue the dialogue about practical, on-the-ground action.
Innovative Tools for Disseminating Solutions: WIREC will play a catalytic role in putting the world's best renewable energy solutions at the fingertips of those facing the world's biggest energy challenges. WIREC will seek to advance the state of the art in collecting and disseminating best practices to end users, building on work done by the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development, the European Commission, the U.S. Government, donor agencies, International Financial Institutions, and multi-stakeholder partnerships (e.g., REN-21, Renewable Energy for Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)), as well as many other organizations and programs.
7. WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial meeting on renewable energy. What was accomplished at the first two?
Bonn: The Bonn Renewable Energy Conference in 2004 was the inaugural, government-hosted international conference on renewable energy. 154 countries attended the Bonn Conference, which produced 3 outcomes: A Political Declaration containing shared political goals for an increased role of renewable energies and reflecting a joint vision of a sustainable energy future that provides better and more equitable access to energy as well as increased energy efficiency. An International Action Program of voluntary commitments to goals, targets, and actions within their own spheres of responsibility from governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders. Policy Recommendations for Renewable Energies that can be of benefit to governments, international organizations, and stakeholders as they develop new approaches and political strategies and address the roles and responsibilities of key actors.
Beijing: The Chinese government hosted the second global renewable energy conference in 2005. The Beijing event drew senior representatives from more than 80 countries to review the status of the Action Plan and present new ideas for promoting and advancing renewable energy worldwide.
8. What is the relationship between WIREC 2008 and policy development by participating governments? Where does WIREC fit into the policy development process?
A: WIREC will provide policy makers from all levels of government (city to national) a robust menu of policy options and practical measures that have been proven successful in accelerating the diffusion of renewable energy technologies.
9. What is the relationship between WIREC 2008 and Major Economies Members?
A: On May 31, 2007, President Bush announced an international energy security and climate change initiative to accelerate the development of a post-2012 framework on greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2008. The G8 Leaders' statement endorsed these objectives on June 7, 2007, and also "welcomed concerted global action to promote renewable energy."
As part of this initiative, the President called for a sector-based approach that will focus on the most urgent needs for research and development of clean energy technologies. This includes the acceleration and expansion of markets for current efficiency and the use of clean and renewable energy technologies. The President also called for participating nations to develop mid-term targets or goals, defined by national circumstances.
WIREC 2008 will support this initiative by providing a forum for representatives of key economies, energy consumers, and renewable energy producers in developed and developing countries to advance the development, deployment, and commercialization of renewable energy systems.
10. What is the relationship between WIREC 2008 and global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions?
A: Renewable energy technologies play an important role in this administration's strategy to respond to the challenges of climate change, energy security, and local air pollution.
WIREC will provide a forum to discuss the linkages between energy and climate change and provide a menu of technological options on how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through expanded use of renewable energy.
This administration has emphasized the need to get all clean energy technologies off the laboratory shelves and into the marketplace. WIREC will demonstrate how the United States is accomplishing this, as well as the successes of industry, other governments, and civil society from around the world. WIREC will play a major role in advancing on-the-ground implementation of renewables through the exchange of best practices and dissemination of a wide range of policy and financing options.
11. Where can I go for more information about international renewable energy development?
12. Whom do I contact for more information about WIREC 2008?
A: For information about the: Ministerial Level Meeting: Please contact Ms. Marjorie Jean-Pierre (Phone: 1+ 202/312-1248; E-mail: mjean-pierre@usea.org) Trade Show at WIREC 2008 Global Business Conference, managed by the American Council on Renewable Energy: For the Trade Show, please contact Ms. Martha Krafton krafton@acore.org. For the Business Conference, please contact Ms. Jodie Roussell at: roussell@acore.org. Official Side Events: Please contact Ms. Maria Rivera-Ramirez at the Energy and Security Group (Phone 1+ 703/689-4670 ext. 115; Email: maria@energyandsecurity.com)
