The World Solar Commission

HARARE DECLARATION ON SOLAR ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

  We, the Heads of State and Government, gathered or officially re p resented in Harare on the occasion of the World Solar Summit, following the invitation by the Government of Zimbabwe and at the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in collaboration with international organizations and institutions, in order to launch a programme for global solar activities to be known as the World Solar Programme 1996-2005;

  1.   Recognize the significance of the role that solar and other sources of renewable energy such as wind, geothermal, hydro, biomass and ocean, as well as energy efficiency, should play in the provision of energy services and in the sustainable use of environmental re s o u rces for the well-being of humanity;

  2.  Reiterate our support for the principles and actions for the promotion of energy systems for sustainable development recommended by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held on 3-14 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in particular the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, as well as the commitments made in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;

  3.  Recognize that the provision of sufficient energy services at aff o rdable prices and the adoption of energy conservation measures are essential for the pro g ress of all countries, developed and developing alike, to meet current and expanding needs in ways which minimize environmental degradation and risks, as well as to realize the full potential of renewable energysources;

  4.  Recognize that there is a need to increase substantially access to energy in developing countries, and that the provision of adequate energy services can improve living conditions, alleviate poverty, improve health and education, promote small scale enterprises and create other income-generating activities especially in rural and isolated areas, thereby reducing rural to urban migration ;

  5.  Recognize that the role of solar energy in each country needs to be integrated and specified
in its national energy policy;

  6.  Recognize that the development, deployment and widespread utilization of solar energy face difficulties, particularly with regard to their management, maintenance and financing as well as to the availability and accessibility of relevant data, information, education, training and technology;

  7.  Recognize that increased use of solar energy can reduce environmental degradation caused by adverse human activities, such as industrial pollution and deforestation, and that it is the responsibility of governments and all sectors of civil society to work together to find lasting solutions to problems threatening the sustainable development of humanity;

  8.  Emphasize that the management of atmospheric emissions of greenhouse and other gases and substances will increasingly require efficient and environmentally sound energy systems, including solar energy ones;

  9.  Recognize the important role that relevant non-governmental organizations play in the development and deployment of solar energy;

  10.  Recognize that women have an important role to play in the promotion of solar energy, and that they would benefit significantly from its use;

  11.  A re convinced that sustainable development and utilization of solar energy would be enhanced by local and national capacity building, policy re f o rm and technology sharing among nations, with emphasis on coherent efforts towards technology acquisition and development in the developing countries.

We therefore,

  12.  Commit ourselves to work towards the wider use of solar energy to enhance the economicand social development of all people; support and promotion of these efforts should be very important goals of our governments,

the international community and all sectors of society,especially with respect to people living in isolated and

underdeveloped rural and island communities;

  13.  Commit ourselves to work towards policies and effective mechanisms that will speed up and facilitate the use

of solar energy avoiding duplication and administrative delays, and the encouragement of international co-operation,

including participation in regional and intern ational bodies, scientific and technical organizations;

  14.  Commit ourselves to work towards the greater use of solar energy through the provision of adequate technical assistance and funding, the full utilization of existing international funds, and the facilitation of increased participation by both public and private sectors.

In pursuit of these objectives we:

  15.  Call on all nations to join in the development and implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005;

  16.  Invite the World Solar Commission to continue to provide high-level leadership and guidance to achieve the objectives of the Summit, and UNESCO to continue to play a leading role in the development of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, in close co-operation with re l evant international organizations .

  17.  Invite the Secretary-General and Heads of Specialized Agencies and Programmes of the United Nations, as well as national governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental org anizations, academic and research institutions and the private sector, to join in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005.

HARARE, 17 September 1996