Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development: A Latin American Perspective

1
Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development A
Latin American Perspective
Esther Neuhaus

• Brazilian Network of NGOs and Social Movements
  for the Environment and the Development

7th GCSF, Dubai January 2006
2
Global Energy Demand in 2030

• Two thirds of growth in global energy demand in
  the next 25 years will occur in developing
  countries
• In 2030 Developing countries 48 of the global
  demand (38 in 2002)
• Per capita consumption low in developing
  countries (compared to OECD countries)
• Industrialized countries focus on climate change
  and security of supply - Developing countries on
  energy supply to meet development needs

3
Linking access to energy to goals for poverty
reduction

• Energy offer in Latin America highly dependent on
  oil and natural gas Two thirds of global share
  in 2004
• 1.6 billion people without access to electricity
  in the world, 47 millions in Latin America
• Policy issues on energy should be linked to the
  Millennium Development Goals, access to
  affordable services and poverty eradication

4
Promoting regional initiatives

• Latin American and Caribbean Renewable Energy
  Platform (WSSD) Share of 10 renewable energy
  for the region
• Principle of common but differentiated
  responsibilities
• Renewable vs. sustainable energy Hydropower

5
Biofuel as an opportunity for sustainable
development

• Potential risks Competition for land -
  Devastation of primary forest - Monocrop
  cultivation - Loss of biodiversity - Soil
  infertility - Pollution of land and water
  resources - Increasing international trade
• Need for sustainable management criteria,
  benefits for small family and organic producers
  and farmers

6
Opportunities with Kyoto Protocol/CDM

• CDM and growth of carbon markets
• Sustainability criteria should be carefully
  observed
• Need for additional committments
• Deforestation Cross-ministerial working groups
• No transfer of carbon-intense obsolete
  technologies to developing countries

7
Stop large dams and displacements

• 40-80 million people physically displaced by dams
  worldwide (WCD)
• Until 1994 World Bank had financed USD 58
  billion - 600 dam projects - 93 countries
• Implementation of the recommendations of the WCD
  Report - Access to information - Decentralized
  energy production and distribution mechanisms -
  Integrated river-basin approach - Participatory,
  multi-stakeholder processes

8
Removing obstacles to renewables in developing
countries

• Policy Recommendations for Renewable Energies,
  JPOI and Agenda 21, with targets and timetables
• Transfer of renewable energy technology
• Capacity-building
• Diversification and decentralization
• No to nuclear energy and waste incineration

9
Removing obstacles to renewables in developing
countries

• Cross-ministerial approach on energy and
  environment
• Regulatory frameworks based on participatory
  multi-stakeholder approach
• Better conversion efficiency of fossil fuel
  combustion - Improved end-use efficiency -
  Conservation and promotion of less energy
  intensive consumption patterns - Better land-use
  practices

10
Questions

• 1 - What precautions are necessary in the
  large-scale development of bioenergy, considering
  its potential environmental consequences?
• 2 - How can hydropower resources be developed in
  an environmental and socially acceptable manner,
  especially in developing countries?
• 3 - How can political, economic, financial,
  technical, regulatory and institutional obstacles
  to the promotion of renewable and sustainable
  energy sources be reduced in developing countries?