IV Hemispheric Energy Ministers Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Many countries of the Americas have expressed concern over renewable energy and energy efficiency, and climate change and are committed to dealing with the related problems. On the aggregate level, heads of state from the hemisphere affirmed their commitment to this issue at the IV Hemispheric Energy Ministers Meeting in the Joint Statement on Clean Development and Use of Energy and pledged to make sustainable energy development and use a reality for the new millenium. Specifically, governments will work to integrate energy, economic, and environmental goals, building on the progress in energy cooperation initiated by the Heads of State and Government in the Miami Summit of the Americas and reaffirmed in the Santa Cruz Summit on Sustainable Development and the Santiago Summit of the Americas. REIA works closely with energy ministers and financial institutions to develop means for implementing programs in these areas.
Examples abound throughout the region.
Many countries of the region have launched or are continuing aggressive rural electrification programs that rely heavily on the use of renewable energy sources. Among these nations are Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico. In the United States, President Clinton challenged the nation to install one million solar energy systems on U.S. rooftops by 2010, and has offered incentives to help make this a reality. The use of renewable energy sources and energy efficient technologies is also tied to the climate change provision of the Santiago Declaration. Countries throughout the region are working consistently on issues related to climate change, Joint Implementation, and Clean Development Mechanism.