Progress in implementing World Summit results
One year on from the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin has called attention to the progress made in the implementation of the Johannesburg results. It was agreed at the Johannesburg Summit that there would be a speedy and notable increase in the share of renewable energies in the energy supply. At the Summit, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder issued invitations to attend an International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn in 2004. Federal Environment Minister Trittin said that the preparations for this Conference have now entered a key phase.
He went on to say that he would clarify the objectives of the 2004 Bonn conference at the regional Renewable Energies Conference between the Energy and Environment Ministers of Latin America, scheduled for the end of October in Brazilia. "It is precisely the decentralised character of renewable energies which allows rapid progress to be made in poverty reduction in developing countries," said Trittin. "This helps climate protection and reduces the dependence on fossil energy imports." The results of the Bonn Conference will be incorportated in the United Nations post-Johannesburg work; in 2006/2007 the UN will negotiate on a sustainable structuring of energy policy.
At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg existing international agreements on sustainable development were reviewed and given new deadlines and priorities for action, including in the sectors drinking water and basic sanitation, chemicals safety and the protection and preservation of biological diversity.
The UN Commission for Sustainable Development has now adopted its programme for the years 2004 to 2017. This will ensure the implementation of the Johannesburg results. In 2004/2005, it will focus on water and basic sanitation, in 2006/2007 on energy policy and in 2008/2009 agricultural policy will be the key issue.
Further information on the International Conference for Renewable Energies can be found at www.renewables2004.de .