Developing clean energy is critical to solving global warming, strengthening our economy and increasing our energy independence. A clean energy future will require us to use energy more efficiently and generate more of our electricity from clean, renewable sources.

Energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to meet our growing energy needs. Taking advantage of energy efficiency will lower consumers’ energy bills, reduce pollution and put hundreds of thousands of people to work performing energy audits, retrofitting older buildings, manufacturing energy efficient building materials and more.

According to scientists generating electricity from renewable sources like wind, sunlight, plants, moving water and the earth’s heat will greatly reduce global warming pollution while increasing our energy independence creating new jobs and income, especially in rural America. Investing in clean energy will diversify our energy supply and create a sustainable way to move our country forward.

Most of the environmental pressures in the region stem from economic activities such as agriculture, tourism, transport and energy, the report says. Current patterns of consumption and production also place an increasing demand on natural resources, putting our environment at further risk.

Associated impacts are wide-ranging: water, air and soil quality differ greatly across the pan-European region. More than 100 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In many countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia and South East Europe the quality of water supply and sanitation has deteriorated over the past 15 years with the rural population being most affected, the report says. (Source: ‘Europe’s environment — The fourth assessment’, was presented in Belgrade, Serbia, at the opening session of the sixth ministerial conference of the ‘Environment for Europe’ process held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).)

The report, which includes a comprehensive assessment of the marine environment across the pan-European region, expresses particular concern regarding over-fishing, eutrophication and mounting pressures on coastal environments. Major accidental oils spills have decreased in European seas. However, oil discharges from day to day activities are still significant.

For biodiversity, the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 will not be met without considerable additional efforts. More than 700 European species are under threat from extinction, including a number of iconic species such as the Iberian lynx and the snow leopard, as a result of habitat destruction, degradation and disturbance.

The report also stressed that impacts of climate change on society and natural resources are already visible worldwide. They are projected to become even more pronounced — even if global emissions of greenhouse gases are reduced drastically. The report stresses the urgency of adaptation to the potential risks of future climate change impacts.

In view of the above it is therefore not surprising that President Bharrat Jagdeo’s persistent efforts to push the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is gaining global attention and winning acclaim from many quarters. The latest praise in this regard came from US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton who in a letter showered commendations on President Jagdeo.

“I appreciate what you and your country are doing to combat climate change.” She added: “As you rightly note, forests represent an important opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase sustainable development. Your Low Carbon Development Strategy establishes a path to achieving those twin goals for Guyana.”

Recently too a visiting World Bank team which was here on a verification mission of the Skeldon Bagasse Co-generation project under the Clean development Mechanism, a Kyoto Protocol initiative found favour with what is taking place there.

Specialist for Carbon and Environmental Finance, Ms. Noreen Beg: “We looked at the operation of the factory and essentially all is going well; and we hope that by this time next year, the project would have undergone the first year of emission reduction generation to the national grid.”