Bonn (WWEA) – Today, WWEA has written an open letter to the International Scientific Congress on Climate Change taking place in Copenhagen from 10-12 March 2009 urging the Congress to refrain in the final congress conclusions from any misleading statements which downplay the actual potentials of renewable energies:

To
Prof. Dr. Katherine Richardson
Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee
International Scientific Congress on Climate Change
C/o University of Copenhagen

Dear Prof. Richardson,

We write to you in your capacity as Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee of the International Scientific Congress on Climate Change. The title of your press release as published today says: "New renewables to power 40 per cent of global electricity demand by 2050", and the following text indicates that this describes a rather positive scenario.

This statement is a disastrous signal for the ongoing international climate change negotiations. The central prediction underestimates enormously the actual potentials of renewable energies. Many studies and reports, for example by the Energy Watch Group, Stanford University, Greenpeace and others, have shown that renewable energies can provide 100 % of the global energy supply – even beyond electricity – and that this can well be achieved by the year 2050. Some countries such as Denmark, China, Germany, Spain or India have already demonstrated the impressive pace of transition which can be achieved in renewable energy deployment, if the right policies and frameworks are in place. Also the new US President Obama has made clear his determination to massively increase renewable energy in the US, giving strong and clear signals to the world.

· Of course we understand that additional major changes in policies and legal and economic frameworks will be necessary to achieve 100 % renewable energy in time, on the local, regional, national and international level. It is a matter of appropriate policies, not of renewable energy potentials.

· We understand that it is the goal of the International Scientific Congress to pave the way for an effective Post-Kyoto agreement, to guide policymakers and to demonstrate viable ways to protect the climate – by identifying effective solutions such as the right policy tools.

· Finally we understand that it will be the goal of the UN climate change conference to agree on concrete arrangements that effectively mitigate climate change because the world cannot afford any further delay in concrete action.

In this sense, we urge you to refrain in the final congress conclusions from any misleading statements which downplay the actual potentials of renewable energies. Also for the sake of the scientific credibility of the congress, we urge you to state clearly that a 100 % renewable energy supply is not only viable, but will be the only truly sustainable and long-term solution to climate change, bringing at the same time manifold additional benefits to all our societies around the world.

The world needs positive guidance and cannot afford any more delay and distraction. We would like to encourage you to assume responsibility, through leadership of major scientific institutions, by offering such guidance and vision.

With kind regards

Stefan Gsänger
- Secretary General -
World Wind Energy Association

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