The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC) was preceeded by a regional consultation by representatives of the SADC region. News on the regional consultation and the conference itself follows.

REEEP undertakes regional consultations for WIREC 2008

The Regional Secretariat for REEEP in Southern Africa, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, hosted a one-day SOUTHERN AFRICAN PREPARATORY WORKSHOP for WIREC on 7 February 2008 at the Innovation Hub, Pretoria.  Thirty-eight stakeholders representing governments, regulators, financiers, industry, agriculture, R&D and civil society from seven countries (Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia) engaged in intense discussions regarding the acceleration of renewable energy within the region.  Dr Griff Thompson, U.S. State Department, participated in the event and represented the WIREC organisers. The Southern African Regional WIREC report can be found here.

Honourable Minister of Minerals & Energy presents findings from regional consultations at WIREC 2008

The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) was convened from 4th – 6th of  March 2008, at the Washington, DC Convention Center in the US. WIREC consisted of a Ministerial Meeting, a business conference, a trade show exhibition and side events. More than 3000 participants from 118 countries registered for the ministerial meeting, including approximately 100 ministerials representatives including Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, the Honourable Minister of Minerals and Energy for South Africa and the current US President, George W. Bush. Over 4000 individuals registered to participate in the business conference, trade show and side events. More information can be found on the WIREC 2008 Ministerial Bulletin compiled by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (insert the pdf doc or the weblink here).

At the Ministerial Meeting, the Minister of Minerals and Energy for South Africa, presented findings from the three REEEP regional consulations in South Asia and Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean and Southern Africa. She called for the South African Government to work more with REEEP within the region. The US State Department released a press release on her report which is available at here. (For the full consolidated report based on regional findings please click follow this link).

REEEP Side Event

REEEP hosted a side event. on the 4th of March 2008. The side event was well attended by more than 140 delegates. This session was moderated by Dr Griff Thompson of the US State Department. Also present were Minister Killeen, Minister of State for Environment and Energy in Ireland and Ms Eva Paaske, Deputy Director General Energy and Water Department in Norway. Minister Killeen and Ms Paaske both gave keynote presentations on why their governments support REEEP and also spoke of the unique value of REEEP in facilitating the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency globally. This side event was also an opportunity for the three regional secretariats who undertook regional consultations namely Ms Amanda Luxande from the Southern African Secretariat, Mr Mark Lambrides from the Latin America and the Carribean Secretariat and Ms Amy Kean from the South East Asia and Pacific Secretariat to give feedback on the barriers to the deployment of renewable energy in their regions. The North American Secretariat represented by Mr Chuck Wilson, also provided feedback on current activities within North America.

WIREC 2008 also provided a platform for individuals countries to make commitments to renewable energy targets. Through a process managed by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN 21), countries are submitting their pledges to drive up renewable energy. For more information and the latest commitments from individual countries please visit the REN 21 pledge page. REN 21 has also produced a global status report on renewables please click here to view document.

On other policy matters, REEEP has produced via the Sustainable Energy Regulation Network (SERN), the 2nd edition of the annual Policy and Regulatory Review of Energy Policy for a number of countries and regions. For full details please click here to read the report.