The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) will bring together government, civil society and private business leaders to address the benefits and costs of a major and rapid scale-up in the global deployment of renewable energy technology.
WIREC Participants can expect to:
Acquire a better understanding of the benefits of large-scale renewable energy deployment on energy security, climate change, air quality and economic growth.
Gain an appreciation of the multiple policy options and best practices that encourage and enable accelerated renewable energy up-take.
Develop networks and find partners to explore and initiate renewable energy projects.
Hosted by the United States Government, in cooperation with the American Council On Renewable Energy, WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial-level conference on renewable energy, following events in Beijing in 2005 and Bonn in 2004.
In 2004, Germany hosted the first International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn. More than 3,600 participants focused on three central themes: the formation of political framework conditions to allow market development of renewable energies, increasing public and private financing in order to secure reliable demand for renewable energies, and human and institutional capacity building-including the coordination of research and development. Participants came away with 197 concrete actions and commitments by governments and other actors.
In 2005, a second conference held in Beijing capitalized on the success of the past year. This conference had a broad focus on policies, strategies, and financing mechanisms, as well as individual forums on investment and finance, industrialists and entrepreneurs, technology, and north-south cooperation. At the close of the conference, government representatives from 78 countries signed a declaration affirming their commitment to renewable energy and discussing the challenges the industry faces.
Since the close of the Beijing conference, worldwide enthusiasm for renewable energy has increased dramatically, and production has soared. The global community fully recognizes the imperative to promote widespread adoption of renewable energies such as biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower.
WIREC 2008 will build upon the outcomes of the conferences in Bonn and Beijing to foster increased political support and public awareness for renewable energy, new and innovative actions to promote widespread adoption of renewable energy, and advanced tools for collecting and disseminating best practices to end users.
WIREC 2008 will consist of four major co-located events:
WIREC 2008 Ministerial Meeting
Official Side Events associated with WIREC 2008
Business Conference
Trade Show
Delegates and registrants for WIREC 2008 will receive participation credentials in one of the following three categories:
1. WIREC 2008 Government Delegates
Government Delegates will receive invitations to participate from the U.S. Department of State
2. WIREC 2008 Non-Governmental Delegates
A limited number of non-governmental delegate spaces will be available for civil society and private sector participants.
3. Business Conference and Expo Registrants
Registrants at the WIREC 2008 Business Conference and Expo will be invited to join the Side Events, as well as social and professional receptions and events held in conjunction with the official government meeting.
WIREC 2008 will be held at the Washington Convention Center in the heart of Washington, DC. Founded in 1790, the capital city of the United States possesses a diversity of historical, cultural, and scenic attractions. Visit the stately monuments lining the National Mall and the Potomac Basin, take in an exhibit at one of the many Smithsonian Museums free of charge, or enjoy a play at one of the many theatres in town. Visit the tourism association for tips on where to stay and what to see: http://www.washington.org
