UN launches development network to promote renewables

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has launched the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development -- ten centres in ten countries which will promote research and adoption of green energy technologies in the developing world. Greater use of wind power technology and other forms of renewable energy should be encouraged as they are increasingly reliable while their costs continue to fall, said UNEP's Klaus Toepfer. The network, launched at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, plans to work with India's Tate Energy Research Institute, Kenya's African Energy Policy Research Network, the Bariloche Foundation of Argentina, ENDA Tiers Monde in Senegal and the Energy Research and Development Centre in South Africa, among others.