World turns to renewable energy for sustainable supply

Delegations from more than 100 countries descended on the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) Tuesday, vowing to push forward the development of renewable energy sources to combat climate change and ensure energy security.

“Our task is to develop the policies, incentives, and forms of international cooperation that will realize the full benefits of renewable energy in order to ensure adequate supplies of energy for all economies, large and small, in the future; to exercise responsible stewardship of the environment; and to promote continued growth of the global economy in the decades ahead,” said John Negroponte, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, at the opening of the three-day conference.
Clean, renewable energy, such as solar power, wind and biofuels would open up “new frontiers” for industrial production, commercial interaction, and technological innovation, said Negroponte.

Existing energy technologies cannot meet the dual requirement of satisfying the growing global demand for energy while reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, it is “imperative” that we bring to market new energy technologies that diminish our dependence on fossil fuels, he added.

At the first ministerial-level plenary session, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman pointed out that with the demand for energy increasing at a soaring pace, renewables are necessary to meet global energy demands.

Xinhua