SOLAR TODAY - April 2010

inside ases | ASES Insights
ISES: Our Window on
global climate change agreements
By DAVE RENNÉ

Dave Renné was elected
to a two-year term as
president of the inter-
national solar energy
society (ises), of which
ases is the u.s. section,
at the start of 2010.
Prior to that, he was
ises’ vice president for
science and technol-
ogy and also served
on the ases Board. He
is a principal project
leader at the national
Renewable energy lab
in golden, colo. Reach
him via david.renne@
nrel.gov.

As I transitioned to the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) presidency at the beginning of 2010, two significant events occurred that will frame the direction of our society’s global renewable energy policies and programs over the years to come.

The first was the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen that took place Dec. 7-19. I attended the second week of the conference as a representative of the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In addition, I headed the ISES delegation and worked with its partner, the Renewable Energy Alliance (REN-Alliance). REN-Alliance partners, besides ISES, are the World Wind Energy Association, the International Hydropower Association, the World Bioenergy Association and the International Geothermal Association. We were part of the vast contingent of NGOs accredited to COP15.

Copenhagen involved long, cold waits each day to join the chaotically enthusiastic hordes inside the Bella Center. What stands out most in my mind is the vast network of attending NGOs, local government entities and

Copyright © 2010 by the American Solar Energy Society Inc. All rights reserved. and signed by weary governments in the closing hours of the conference, without any binding agreements. But the unofficial message to the world is that a vast network of organizations and citizen activists are forging alliances to make a tangible difference in the way the world thinks about its energy sources and its future. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and ISES play key roles in these movements. We have the ability to reach out to other people and groups around the world, and we can provide the critical and timely information they need on renewable energy technologies to tackle climate change.

The second significant event occurred just a few weeks later. It was the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), in the booming city of Abu Dhabi. The city is home to the newly formed International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). IRENA is gradually gaining traction and may become the international organization to shape global policies and programs in the years to come. ISES and the REN-Alliance had official observer status at IRENA’s third Preparatory Commission meeting just prior to offer the developing world is essential to assure that we stay on a sustainable renewable energy path and tackle the major problems that climate change, energy security and stable economic growth pose for all nations. Following the IRENA meeting, at the WFES, many heads of state professed strong support for a non-carbon future.

ISES and ASES have important roles. We are forming strong ties with partners across the globe who share our vision: rapid transition to a renewable energy world. Our technical legacy and the growing grassroots support we enjoy from all segments of the renewable energy industry place us in a key position to affect the outcomes of global climate negotiations — and the work of international bodies such as IRENA. I look forward to working with all of you from my new position with ISES to achieve our mutual goals.

The unofficial message to the world is that a vast net-
work of organizations and citizen activists are forging
alliances to make a tangible difference in the way the
world thinks about its energy sources and its future.

loosely formed private citizen groups that have chosen to take on the climate change-mitigation challenge. These groups spearhead grassroots programs around the world, and they make a real difference in determining how our energy supplies and sustainable practices will be developed in the decades to come.

Many side events highlighted their activities. For instance, at the Mayors Climate Initiative, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels described how more than 100 mayors have signed a pledge to tackle climate change in their cities; U.S. governors and Canadian premiers shared information on climate-mitigation strategies; and city organizers from around the world described how they are establishing greenhouse gas emission-reduction goals.