Why WIREC 2008?
One of the major accomplishments of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, was the recognition that renewable energy is a critical component of sustainable development, energy security, climate change, and air quality. Worldwide enthusiasm for renewable energy has increased dramatically since WSSD, both multilaterally (e.g., 2004 Bonn Renewable Energy Conference, 2005 Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference, G-8, etc.), bilaterally, and nationally. Nations now more fully recognize the imperative to promote widespread adoption of renewable energy, such as biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro energies, into their countries’ energy mix to promote sustained economic growth, social development, and environmental stewardship.
