EuropeanIs and A en da

The efforts of the I European Conference on Sustainable IslandDevelopment, organised by INSULA, UNESCOand the Minorca IslandCouncil, with the support of the European Commission and the maininternational agencies, have led to the design of the basic pillars of theEuropean Island Agenda.

The Island Agenda constitutes the first step towards achieving agrand inter-island co-operation plan for sustainable development.Among the Agenda's eight areas of priority action, emphasis is givento the energy sector and to full participation by the renewable ener-gies. There is a direct agreement that, in islands, "any conventionalenergy solution must be considered as a transitory step toward fullimplementation of renewables".

World S larProgramme 1996-2005

\Nithin the framework of the World Solar Summit process, initi-ated by UNESCO in co-operation with the main national, regional andinternational agencies, the creation of an Island Solar Council is aproject thatharmonises the different island initiatives in the field ofrenewable energies, contributing to the implementation of a solar pro-gramme for the islands. .

The differential characteristics of islands and the fact that they haveabundant sources of renewable energy mean that these renewableenergies must be considered as a necessary support for their sustain-able development strategy. They must also be considered as a priorityfactor in the efforts to reduce island dependency, adopting develop-ment instruments and standards that are more suited to the fragilenature of islands and to the conservation of their resources.

Island \NindsWEB

New communication technology enables us to breakthrough the traditional isolation of islands, making access toresources and know-how, both between islands and betweenislands and other regions, at a

&dwo tdo::Ó\ y- 11. f...-orhn A¡.s¡dt

reasonable price, a very realpossibility.

Being aware of the fact thatthis area represents a top pri-ority task, in arder to foster theintegration of renewable ener-gies in island development, IN-SULA (International ScientificCouncil far Island Develop- Othe,,.'OUf

Focalpolnts

ment), the Secretariat of the 11, •••••• s••• """"- ••• ----iiiiiiiiiiii!iiWorld Solar Programme (1996

- 2005)and ITERare working together to design a specific WEBsite aimed at promoting the integration of renewable energiesin islands and at providing information about building an Island

Solar Programme.The main actions and services will

be aimed at:(;) Identifying focal information

points in the islands.Fostering inter-island co-operation

in specific projects.(;) Providing information about tech-

nology, markets and financial instru-ments.(;) Developing fora aimed at training

in renewable energies.

ISLANOWINOS

"'-Z.....:..,...WOII 501111 Ploylamrne1996,...•.•.....'

INSUlA

ITERWindenergy

http://www.insula.org/solar. html

Ilsland Solar Council IGovernments' Board

IExecutive Board

Island representativeSecretariat WSP + Insula

Institutions

Insular energyagencies I

Localauthorities

Networks andIsland organisations

Universities andResearch centres

Industrial associations andMarketing agents

Thematic Working Groups

Water Electrification ofdesalination isolated communities

Tourism andrenewable energy

Education andInformation

Inter-island technicalco-operation

Markets andIndustrial partners

Renewable energyisland planning

Ilsland Solar Programme I

1997 - 1998Consultations wilh local governments,institutions and main insular agenls

bjectivesPromote and harmonise co-operation atan inter-island and internationallevel, par-ticularly in the domains of formalion, in-formation, research, transfer of technologyand industrial alliances.

Develop Ihe necessary public awarenessactions to allow the consolidalion of Iheessential role of renewable energies in en-ergy supply and in Ihe proteclion of Iheenvironmenl in the islands.

1998Island

Solar Conference

Foster the broadestpossible disseminationof renewable energy applicalions in islandregions.

Develop funding mechanisms and appro-priale institutional and regulation reforms.

Mobilise island relaled resources for de-veloping an island solar programme.

Establish priorities in renewable energymatters for Ihe islands.

•Inaula••••••• _ Scienlllc CooI•••• Io•••••• d DeVlllop_nt

The Intemational Scientific Council lor Island Development wascreated in 1989, wtth the purpose 01 creating an efficient communi-cations link between islands. Insula is an intemational organisationaimed at lostering inter -island co-operation lor sustainable develop-ment, delense 01 island interests and preservation 01 natural andcu~ural heritage in all island regions.

Insula acts in association with UNESCO and works in close co-operation with all the main intemational agencies and bodies. ~ alsopromotes and intervenes in action programmes in the strategicareas that are currently the concem 01 island communities.

C/O UNESCO House: 1, Rue de Miollis • 75015 Paris-FRANCETel.: + 33 1 45684056 • Fax: + 33 1 45685804

E-mail: insula@insula.org

Iter(INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYANO RENEWABLE ENERGIES)

~ Instituto Tecnológico y de-Energías Renovables, S.A.

~er was lounded in 1991 by !heIsland Council 01 Tenerile. 1I ad-dressesall activities relatedlo inlor-malion, Iraining and lechnologicaldevelopment applied lo renewableenergy sources.

~er works in close co-operalionwith !he main institutions and asso-ciations 01!he renewableenergy in-dustry and headsa large number 01ResearchandOevelopmentprojects.

Polígono Industrial de Granadilla. E-38594 Tenerife - Canary IslandsTel: +3422391000· Fax: +3422391001

E-mail: iter@iter.rcanaria.es

World So arProgramme1996-2005

On the initiative 01 UNESCO and with the lirm support 01 a group 01 Heads 01 State and Government, the Wo~d Solar Commission was created inMarch 1995. ~s purpose was to ensure high-Ievel management aimed at promoting the generalised use 01 renewable energy sources, considered tobe an essential a~emative lor reducing harrnlul emissions 01 gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. ~ was considered to be a lactor lorpromoting sustainable development and a powerful instrument lor eradicating poverty, creating employment and enhancing wea~.

On the 17" 01 September, 1996, the Wo~d Solar Summtt held in Harare (Zimbabwe) approved the Harare Declaration on solar energy and sustainabledevelopment and laid the loundations lor a ten-year programme, the Wo~d Solar Programme 1996-2005, using the Wo~d Solar Commission's detailedreport as a starting point.

The objective 01 the Wo~d Solar Programme is to raise awareness among govemments, govemment agencies, non-govemment organisations,linancial instttutions, the academic world and private instttutions to promote the use 01 renewable energies wtthin the context 01 sustainabledevelopment.

The Wo~d Solar Programme is a genuine programme 01 action which sets objectives and a strategy lor ten years, aimed at achieving an effectiveuse 01 renewable and environmentally lriendly energies in all regions and countries and to create technological, linancial and co-operation instrumentsthat will enable us to overcome existing constraints.

In the Iramework 01 the Wo~d Solar Summtt Process, Regional Councils have been established in order to harmonise efforts 01 the differentsignnicant actors in each region. Nonetheless, the specnictty, particulartty and singularity 01 island territories and societies makes tt advisable tocreate a Solar Council lor the Islands capable 01 projecting the objectives 01 the WSP to the common wo~d 01 the Islands.

secretanatOsman BENCHIKH • UNESCO • World Solar Programme

1, Rue de Miollis • 75015 Paris - FRANCE • Tel.: + 33 1 45683916 • Fax: + 33 1 45685 820 • E-mail: o.benchick@unesco.org