G8 Heiligendamm statements on energy efficiency - extracts from summit economy declaration
15/06/07
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
[...]
62. The global potential for saving energy is huge. According to the International Energy
Agency, successfully implemented energy efficiency policies could contribute to 80% of
avoided greenhouse gases while substantially increasing security of supply.
63. We recognise that enhanced international cooperation offers enormous opportunities. Against this background we are committed to further strengthening and increasing
our efforts of co-operation, both at inter-state level as well as within the framework of
the respective international fora and organisations.
To this end, we will
- continue and further substantiate our energy-efficiency dialogue begun at Evian;
- move forward with implementing the Gleneagles and St. Petersburg Action
Plans, thereby retaining and supporting the IEA’s close involvement;
- take forward the concrete recommendations on energy efficiency presented by
the IEA and consider drawing on these when preparing national energy efficiency
plans;
- encourage the World Bank and other IFIs to further broaden and improve their
financial framework for energy efficiency and clean energy;
- note the EU’s proposal for an international agreement on energy efficiency and
ask the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable
Development and the IEA to explore the most effective means to promote energy efficiency internationally, including through the exchange of best practices,
sharing methodologies and further cooperation and by inviting other countries
with significant energy needs to join;
- promote international research, encourage investment and development cooperation
aimed at energy efficient technologies and other greenhouse gas mitigation
options;
- report on progress in the policies and measures on energy efficiency outlined
below at the G 8 summit in 2008.
[...]
Sustainable Buildings
67. The opportunities for making buildings more efficient are enormous. Following the
EU/G8 conference on energy efficiency, held in Berlin in April 2007, we will
- set up a "Sustainable Buildings Network", involving the G8 and open for participation
of the major emerging economies. The network will develop practical instruments
for assessing and advising on the implementation of energy efficiency
in buildings and the use of renewable energies, especially for cooling and heating,
taking into due consideration the different situations of new and existing
buildings, and development and deployment of low and zero-carbon buildings,
- invite the IEA to take a central role in creating this network,
- work to increase energy efficiency in the building sector, and to reach a considerable
expansion of renewable energies in this area. To this end we will consider
the role of nationally determined targets in sustainable buildings and their importance
for energy efficiency in the medium to long term. We will actively support
the energy efficient technologies and the use of renewable energies by employing
market mechanisms, promotion instruments and framework legislation, as well as through public-private-partnership initiatives to move towards low or
zero-energy buildings. Instruments to this end include consumer information
such as energy performance certificates (“building passports”) and individual energy
standards – which also consider renewable energies - for new buildings,
modernisation or household equipment.
[...]
The full summit declaration of June 7 on 'Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy' can be downloaded from the G8 2007 website www.g-8.de
