???aural:Bildanfang??????aural:Bildende???

Objective: More energy efficiency and innovative technologies

State Secretary Dr. Bernd Pfaffenbach from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) signed an agreement for Germany on founding the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC).

The partnership aims to further intensify cooperation between industrial and developing countries on questions relating to energy efficiency. The G8 Energy Ministers and Energy Ministers from various African countries attending the meeting agreed on the need for more immediate and purposeful measures to be taken together with the countries affected and with industry in order to combat energy poverty.

The document was signed in Rome, where the meeting of the G8 Energy Ministers was held under the Italian Presidency on 24 and 25 May 2009. Besides the Energy Ministers of the G8 countries, the meeting was also attended by the G5 Energy Ministers (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) as well as the respective Ministers from Algeria, Australia, Egypt, Korea, Libya, Nigeria, Ruanda, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The key topics were energy and climate, supply security, the impact of volatile oil prices and energy poverty, with a focus on Africa. The meeting also prioritised the question of carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS). US Energy Minister Stephen Chu said investments in CCS represent a countermeasure to climate change that cannot be ignored. The meeting also underlined the significance of a broad energy mix and, particularly, the important role that renewables play in combating greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development.

More information: http://www.bmwi.de/English/Navigation/root.html