The regional workshop of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy
(GFSE) for countries that are members of the International
Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) was held
from 24-26 November 2004, in Paro, Kingdom of Bhutan. The
meeting considered the theme of "Access to Rural Energy for
Sustainable Development and Policies for Rural Areas." The
workshop emphasized increasing awareness among the countries of
the Himalaya-Hindukush Region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
China (Tibet), India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan) and donor
countries on rural energy supply for sustainable development as
part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The
workshop also aimed to facilitate regional solutions and help
Bhutan's efforts to achieve "electricity for all by 2020." In
particular, the workshop set out to stimulate discussion and
networking possibilities on sustainable energy matters related
to: sector improvement and policy development/changes; capacity
building and sharing of best practices within the region;
empowerment for sustainable energy solutions; implementation of
existing national and regional recommendations and plans; and
improvement of stakeholder communication, including donors.
The workshop also sought to promote and explain the concept of
the EU-Energy Initiative (EUEI) for poverty eradication and
sustainable development and to explore the need for specific
projects and areas of financial co-operation. Aiming to take a
regional rather than bilateral approach to problems and
solutions, the workshop focused on rural access to energy,
solutions for remote mountain areas, affordability, rural
development, electrification, climate protection, renewable
energy, poverty reduction, lifestyle and consumer protection,
consumer-driven approaches and gender participation.
The workshop was convened by Georg Lennkh, Director General of
the Austrian Development Cooperation. It was co-hosted by the
Department of Energy, Ministry of Trade and Industry of Bhutan,
GFSE, the Austrian Coordination Bureau (ACB), Mountain
Partnership, and the EUEI.
More.