The First Seminar of The Energy Efficiency Workshop

Energy for a Sustainable Development
An Energy Efficiency Strategy
Recommendations and Propositions for Action

June 28-30, 2000
Finnish Institute, Paris

1 -  Expert network and participants in the seminar

Selected experts from the "Energy and Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Energy Efficiency" network met in June 2000, in Paris, at a seminar organised by WISE-Paris, as part of the Alliance for a Responsible and United World's "Energy Workshop".

The group of participants (of which the list is given below) formed a veritable "Steering Committee" for the Energy Workshop (renamed the Energy Efficiency Workshop) given the diversity of their backgrounds, areas of expertise, experience and viewpoints.

Firstly, there was a great diversity of geographical origins and of "national situations": Western European, and Eastern and Central European countries were the best represented, but China, Southeast Asia and Argentina (for Latin America) were also present. From the point of view of "representation" of the industrialised nations: North America and Japan were notably absent (two invited participants sent their apologies); Africa was totally absent (including northern and sub-Saharan Africa); as were the Middle East and South Asia (especially India). The presence of Latin America could also be reinforced.
An initial task will be the reasonable enlargement of the Steering Committee (which the participants, during their discussions, referred to as "our group").

The diversity of backgrounds, experience and activities was nonetheless interesting. While each participant recognised the need for a strategy based on energy efficiency, they did so from different points of view. A part of the group was made up of energy experts (often starting in the nuclear energy sector) who have evolved towards energy efficiency and are involved in putting it into practice professionally, generally in difficult conditions. Another part, intellectually close to the first, was made up less of practitioners and more of academics, oriented towards research and teaching and with, in general, a high level of participation in international meetings and discussions (particularly relating to questions arising from the enhanced greenhouse effect). Several participants, mainly issuing from one or other of the above sub-groups, are active in international cooperation (in Eastern European, Asian and African countries, etc.) and, in general, have a dual experience of western industrialised nations (Europe, North America) and developing countries or those with economies in transition.
Finally, the group also contained representatives from associations and militant movements, whose starting point is often their objection to nuclear power and protection of the environment, and who have a "positive" stance on alternative sources of energy. Their sensitivity to questions of information and communication and to the underlying political implications was, in the main, more developed than in the other sub-groups. However, what was remarkable in the make up of the group and its behaviour during the three days of the seminar was that, in spite of the differences and diversity we have just described, there was, in fact, a continuous spectrum of sensitivities that made the seminar's work extremely fluid and productive.

2 - Initial discussions

Taking as their starting point the presentation by Pierre Calame, President of the Foundation for the Progress of Humankind (FPH), and its "Alliance for a Responsible and United World" project, discussions and contributions focused initially on descriptions of participants' experience and needs (as well as those of their countries and/or social movements for which, while they could not be representatives, they could at least be spokespersons).

There was a wide variety of contributions some of which described the situation of a country (failures, expectations or success story), while others concentrated on themes of particular importance (restructuring of electricity and gas markets for example).

A certain number of "cross-cutting" questions or proposals emerged as a background to certain contributions or were addressed by contributors directly:

a)	The extraordinary gap between the "fortunate" and the less fortunate (the majority in the world and in most countries), whether from the point of view of energy consumption or even just of knowledge of what energy efficiency can mean, a gap which is being maintained or is even widening, whereas modes of consumption are becoming globalised.

b)	The resistance among political leaders, with a few notable exceptions (e.g. Denmark), to dissemination of an energy efficiency policy, even when this presents obvious advantages (e.g. in Central and Eastern European countries).

c)	The importance of energy efficiency and sustainable development and the question: should we talk about "sustainable energy" when referring to the combination of energy efficiency and renewable energies which alone, with a one hundred year horizon, will make it possible to solve the energy question worldwide while meeting everyone's needs?

These first discussions resulted in:

•	the expression of a need for deeper analysis of barriers and key questions;

•	the necessity, expressed by everyone, for information, communication and training to build local capacities (from NGOs and technicians);

•	the inevitability of "lobbying" of decision makers at all levels.

3 - Towards a project

These observations and questions gave a "structure" to the subject of discussion and, in a certain manner, made "our group" a thinking entity, which led to more focussed reflection along three lines:

•	Deeper examination of concepts and practices from examples and given situations.

•	Which initiatives should be promoted and supported within the international organisations?

•	Which tool (or tools) would meet needs as expressed by group members (from NGOs to experts)?

3.1. Deeper examination of concepts and practices was a need expressed by practically every participant who, in the positions in which they find themselves, are continually confronted by new difficulties. To overcome these they need to be able to exchange ideas, and share the experience and innovations which the group can provide. For example:

-	How to overcome the stagnation in energy efficiency due to energy prices which make it unattractive in the CIS? What new mechanisms should be proposed for financing and investment?

-	How to acquire international expertise for actions in the field by militants from associations for protection of the environment?

-	How to bring into general use, disseminate and popularise energy efficiency labels for equipment and appliances with best performance?

-	How to develop "energy service companies", active and effective in some countries?

-	Of course, there is the question of training for professionals, but also for leaders at all levels (local authorities, governments and international organisations).

-	The question of institutions, human capacity and empowerment at every level.

-	The central question of communication: breaking out of the relatively closed circle of experts to undertake multi-disciplinary work and to popularise energy efficiency, etc. 

The expression of this set of needs illustrates the necessity of – at a level and in accordance with means and modalities yet to be established – maintaining the dialogue established within the group: free exchanges of experience but also of new ideas.

3.2. Discussion on the initiatives to be supported or promoted within international organisations (especially via the Alliance) rapidly focussed on two questions:

-	the idea of an "International Convention on Energy Efficiency";

-	the idea of a United Nations agency for energy efficiency (or energy efficiency and renewable energies" or "sustainable energy").

The International Convention – or Protocol to an existing international convention (on climate change, for example) – appears to be a fruitful idea worthy of support, not only because it is the only way to bind governments to precise commitments (of which they can then be reminded), but also because it is a way of not omitting to obtain the financial means required for international cooperation.
For example, under the Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, the Parties are committed to limiting their greenhouse gas emissions to pre-determined values (in relation to a 1990 baseline), and most of the actions envisaged to achieve those limits involve energy efficiency (lowering of energy intensity in relation to GDP) and the development of renewables (lowering of carbon content of energy consumption).
It would be perfectly logical and legitimate for a Protocol with emission reduction objectives to be completed by a Protocol on means relating to energy efficiency and on the development of renewable energies, or a combination of the two.

The creation of a United Nations agency for energy efficiency and renewable energy appears wholly justified, with the prospect of the 9th Meeting of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD9) in 2001, and "Rio + 10" in 2002 in view.
We are already familiar with the weight and influence of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations agency responsible for monitoring of military nuclear activities (respect of non-proliferation agreements) but also for promoting civil nuclear activities, with all the ambiguity of that dual role. This function for promotion and (powerful) support is relayed by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) within the OECD and by the EURATOM Treaty within the European Union. However, nuclear energy represents only 6 to 7 per cent of primary commercial energy produced and consumed in the world and only concerns some 30 countries.

Everyone agrees, at least in the political discourse, on the fact that energy efficiency and renewable energies must be developed in every country of the world with the objective of sustainable development.

Comment:

At a halfway point between the innovative approach to be supported by the various channels and by international demands, the idea was put forward of the creation of ISO standards (ISO - International Standards Organization) for energy efficiency.
This is an extremely interesting idea. It was then suggested that it would be more advantageous to invent something new: working towards ISO taking account of (or responsibility for) energy efficiency needs, as it has done for the environment.

3.3. What tools for what needs?

The need for information and information exchanges was expressed by all of the participants, regardless of position or responsibilities.
Rapid access to technical information, of course, but above all to "success stories" (and failures) with the practical details of the organisational processes behind them. There is a necessity for a multi-disciplinary approach in which the economic, legal and financial aspects become increasingly important.
The obvious solution is to create a website, and this was the subject of protracted discussions within the group, aware (from experience) of the difficulty of such an enterprise and of the necessity of targeting the service to be developed very precisely. Developing a site does not just mean following fashion but, by progressive steps, constructing a really useful tool.
After a presentation by each participant, which showed the breadth and diversity of information needs, the group quickly formulated a dual observation: firstly, it would not be possible to create an independent website that would attempt to provide exhaustive information on the many questions and themes relating to energy efficiency (including diversity and specific geographical aspects) and; secondly, there is already a large number of sites on the subject, some of which are highly specialised and developed.

In spite of this relative abundance of information sources, it was observed that access to them is not always easy; that they are, in general, known only to a small number of specialists; it is often difficult to judge their value and quality; and some important information is only rarely provided on them (e.g. the methods and organisation behind political decisions (national or local) that have led to a programme being successful, methods of access to international finance (often jealously guarded by "call for tender" specialists), and innovations in the areas of financing and investment).
Concrete methods and practices for implementation are of particular importance today, given the rapid changes taking place in some energy markets, especially those of gas and electricity, and in the move towards liberalisation and restructuring of the corresponding industries. International negotiations on the means to fight climate change (the "flexible" mechanisms in particular) are creating new degrees of complexity (while providing important elements in favour of energy efficiency).

It therefore appeared that the most appropriate solution to the needs expressed by the group would be the creation of a website, of which the primary mission would be to point the way to existing sites, implying the need for prior work to identify and analyse those sites ("need for a smart clearing house").
In a second work phase (which could be run in parallel), the group would attempt to identify what is lacking in present information systems and would propose the means to make up for such inadequacies by providing original information.
In order that this role as a "roadmap to information on energy efficiency" should correspond to actual needs, the objective was fixed of making the site usable in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

4 - Creation of the World Energy Efficiency Link (WEEL)

In order to ensure that the work carried out over a year within the Alliance's "Energy Workshop" is pursued; to satisfy the need to maintain active links within an extended group; and to deepen understanding and to disseminate the concepts, methods and practices of an energy efficiency strategy for sustainable development, the seminar participants decided to create the World Energy Efficiency Link (WEEL) by the following declaration:

Creation of the World Energy Efficiency Link (WEEL)
We, the undersigned, participants in the Energy Efficiency Seminar, from 28-30 June 2000 in Paris, organized by WISE-Paris and ICE and supported by the Alliance for a Responsible and United World;
Agreed on the creation of the World Energy Efficiency Link (WEEL) to strengthen energy efficiency among peoples, cultures, and countries worldwide.
This initiative is particularly timely given the environmental impacts associated with energy production and consumption, the threat posed by climate change, the ongoing restructuring of energy markets globally, and the need to find sustainable development pathways. 
The activities of WEEL will include creating linkages among organizations and individuals concerned by energy-efficiency issues; expanding the discussion of energy efficiency to a broader public; and integrating energy efficiency into all sectors of human activity.

Date:	30 June 2000
Signed:
Ada Amon, Hungary
Garegin Aslanian, Center for Energy Policy, Russia
Peter du Pont, International Institute for Energy Conservation, Thailand
Adam Gula, Krakow Institute for Sustainable Energy, Poland
Julie Hazemann, World Information Service on Energy (WISE-Paris), France
Zou Ji, Tsinghua University, Renmin University, China
Victor Kotomkin, Kola Energy Efficiency Centre, Russia
Bernard Laponche, International Consulting on Energy (ICE), France
Raul Montenegro, FUNAM (Environment Defense Foundation), Argentina
Lorenzo Pagliano, Italy
Lydia Popova, Center for Nuclear Ecology and Energy Policy, Socio-Ecological Union, Russia
Mycle Schneider, WISE-Paris, France
Anjali Shanker, Innovation Energie Developpement (IED), France
Bent Sørensen, Roskilde University, Denmark

5 – Tasks to be carried out

Tasks for the participants
•	Comment on the existing document within the next two weeks
•	Prepare additions to the existing document within next two months
•	Prepare one or more fact sheets on WHAT – HOW stories
•	Suggest people/organisations  to be included in the WEEL
•	List of web links with brief comments 
•	Feed the calendar of events
•	Look for fund raising possibilities
•	Participate in the web FORUM with comments and documents to be put in the Forum folder

Tasks for Organisers
•	General co-ordination
•	Planning of the web site structure
•	Give infos on how to participate in the Web Forum
•	Logo development
•	Fund raising

The First Seminar of The Energy Efficiency Workshop

Energy for a Sustainable Development
An Energy Efficiency Strategy
Recommendations and Propositions for Action

June 28-30, 2000
Finnish Institute, Paris

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

AMON Ada, Energy Club
PO Box 411
H-1519 Budapest
Hungary
Phone: +36-1-209 72 23 - Fax: +36-1-466 88 66
Mail: ada@zpouk.hu

ASLANIAN Garengin, director , Center for Energy Policy
Petrovka 14, office 125
103031 Moscow
Russia
Phone: +7-095-200 4506 - Fax: +7-095-200 4479
Mail: aslan@energy.ru

CALAME Pierre, President, Fondation pour le progrès de l’homme, 
38, rue Saint Sabin
75 011 Paris
France
Phone: +33-1-43 14 75 75  - Fax: +33-1-43 14 75 99
Mail: pic@fph.fr

du Pont Peter,
(Former Directeur, Asia Operations, IIEC),
Thailand-DANCED
C/o Department of Energy Development & Promotion
Bangkok Thai Tower - 108 Rang Nam Rd - Bangkok 10400 - Thailand
Tel: +66 2 642 7125 - fax: 66 2 642 7124
Mail: pdp@dem.dk

Gula Adam 
Director, FEWE -Polish Foundation for Energy Efficiency, Center in Cracow
ul. Florianska 55
31019 Cracow
Poland
Phone: +48-12-421 3989 - Fax:  +48-12-421 3070
Mail: adamgula@ceti.pl

HAZEMANN Julie, Associate researcher, WISE-PARIS
31-33, rue de la colonie
75 013 Paris
France
Phone: +33-1-45 65 47 93 - Fax: +33-1-45 80 48 58
Mail: julie.hazemann@wise-paris.org

JI Prof. Zou,
Environmental Economics Institute, Remin University, BEIJING 100872,  China, 
175, Haiden road
tel. 0086.10.62513529, fax 0086.10.62515215, zoujit@public.bta.net.cn

KOTOMKIN Victor, Director of the Kola Energy Efficiency Centre (KEEC), 
PO Box 237, Apatity-9
184209 Murmansk r-n
Russia
Fax: +7-815-31 94 436
Mail: keec@com.mels.ru

LAPONCHE Bernard, founder of ICE (International Conseil Energie) and former adviser to the French Minister for the Environment
46, rue de Provence
75 009 Paris
France
Phone: +33-1-48 74 59 73 - Fax: +33-1-42 81 39 58
Mail: ice@globenet.org

MARIGNAC Yves, Assistant director, WISE-PARIS, 
31-33, rue de la colonie
F-75 013 Paris
France
Phone: +33-1-45 65 47 93 - Fax: +33- 1-45 80 48 58
Mail: ymarignac@questions-energies.org

Montenegro Raul, President, FUNAM (Fondation pour la Défense de l’Environnement) 
Professor of Evolutionary Biology, National University of Cordoba
Casilla de Correo 83, Correo Central 5000 Cordoba, Argentina
Phone: +54-51-69 02 82 - Fax: +54-51-52 02 60
raulmont@satlink.com

Pagliano Lorenzo, Professor, Department of Energetics, Politecnico di Milano
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
Phone: +39-02-23 99 38 70 - Fax: +39-02-23 99 39 40
lorenzo.pagliano@polimi.it

POPOVA Prof. Lydia,
Director Center for Nuclear Ecology and Energy Policy, Socio-Ecological Union, ul. Krupskaya, 8-1-187, MOSCOW 117311, Russia, tel. 007.095.1317012, fax 007.095.1317012, seulydia@glas.apc.org

SCHNEIDER Mycle, co- founder and director of  WISE-PARIS
31-33, rue de la colonie
F-75 013 PARIS
France
Phone: +33-1-45 65 47 93 - Fax: +33-1-45 80 48 58
Mail: mycle@wise-paris.org

Shanker Anjali 
Director, IED (Innovation Énergie Développement)
Mail: a.shanker@ied-sa.fr

Sørensen Bent, Pr.  Physics teatcher, Roskilde University
Energy & Environment Group, Institute for mathematics, physics, and their functions in research, education and applications
PO Box 260, DK 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Phone: +45-46 74 20 28
Fax: +45-46 74 30 20
Mail: bes@ruc.dk