Global Clean Energy Commitment: Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition

In 2001, President Bush reneged his support of the international agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, to curb global warming pollution. Now the United States is, once again, isolating itself from joining an international coalition of over 80 countries called the "Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC)."

The Coalition recognizes the urgent need for significantly increasing the proportion of renewable energy in order to achieve sustainable development and stop global warming.

The JREC will hold its first major meeting at the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany from June 1 to June 4, 2004.

We are asking for President Bush's strong commitment to the JREC goals and support for the following demands:

• U.S. International lending institutions, like Export Credit Agencies, being required to immediately target 20 percent of energy sector lending to renewable energy and energy efficient projects
• The United States becoming a leader in the establishment of a global renewable energy standard for electricity of 20 percent renewable electricity by 2020.