Media Note: United States and United Kingdom Work Together on Energy Partnerships

USUN Press Release
April 28, 2004 

United States Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and United Kingdom Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett today announced a partnership to work together to alleviate poverty and increase access to modern, cleaner and more affordable energy services in developing countries. The United States and the United Kingdom will work together under the U.S.-sponsored Clean Energy Initiative and the U.K.-originated Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, two programs established at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development to further the energy sector’s contribution to economic, social and environmental development. The announcement was made at the 12th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York.

By signing a joint statement at today’s announcement, the United States joins the U.K. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, and the United Kingdom joins the U.S. Clean Energy Initiative. Members of the two mutually supportive partnerships will share knowledge, communicate across national boundaries and help to promote best practices that increase access to cleaner energy resources, including the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Clean Energy Initiative enhances developing country access to a full range of cleaner energy technologies with the goal of supporting cleaner economic growth. The focus of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership is on energy efficiency and enhancing renewable energy’s price competitiveness and market penetration. Both partnerships bring together governments, private sector and civil society organizations to promote investment, apply technology and develop new business, financial, legal and regulatory solutions.

The practical implications of the alliance will be to illuminate homes, classrooms, and factories, provide water for health and agriculture needs, and ignite economic growth in both rural villages and urban municipalities. The alliance recognizes the profound role that increased access to affordable energy plays in achieving development goals.

For further information, please contact:

Susan Povenmire, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 202-647-3486.

Steve Mee, Press Office, U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
[44] 020-7238-4990.