Campaign for Sustainable Development Energy Initiative Launched at World Summit
Aug. 23, 2002
Campaign for Sustainable Development Energy Initiative Launched at World Summit
International Fund Would Promote Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Today marked the launch of a campaign by Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE), in partnership with Public Citizen, to establish an international fund that will support projects promoting energy conservation and sustainable sources of renewable energy.
The International Sustainable Energy Fund (ISEF) would consist of contributions from governments throughout the world of both money and ideas about strategy and technology. They would be used to achieve a sustainable quality of life for all. The idea was unveiled at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
“With the world’s attention focused on the world summit right now, we hope that governments will be open to new ideas that would help realize the promise of the Rio Earth Summit ten years ago,” said Alice Slater, president of GRACE. “Creating a unified fund to ensure equitable access of sustainable resources for all is the first step to eradicating poverty, minimizing pollutants, and reducing the risk from global warming and nuclear proliferation, while promoting safe, clean sustainable energy.”
GRACE first submitted the ISEF model to the Commission for Sustainable Development in New York City in April 2001. It later was endorsed in concept at the EU/ NA Regional Roundtable in Vail, Colo. According to the plan, the funding for the ISEF would come from money saved from phasing out subsidies by industrialized governments that support unsustainable forms of fossil fuel and nuclear energy.
“This is a work in progress by civil society and we hope WSSD participants view this concept as an opportunity to promote international cooperation for a common goal,” said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen’s Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program, which is advocating on behalf of the fund’s creation. “Now is the time to push this idea forward and talk about how we can make it real. This is a call to all governments – if you truly want to clean up our planet, here’s a way we can do it.”
For more information about ISEF, please click here.
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