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OAS EVENT TOUTS EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS AMONG INITIATIVES FOR A “RENEWABLE FUTURE”

Green house gas reduction, efficient lighting and using less electricity were highly touted at an Organization of American States gathering as strategies holding the key to a sustainable, “greener” future.

“Sustainable development is without any doubt at the front and center of the issues and concerns of the countries of the Americas,” Secretary General José Miguel Insulza declared Wednesday evening at a reception for “A Renewable Future,” pressing his call for all sectors of society to be involved in implementing successful strategies to benefit current and future generations.

Addressing business leaders, politicians, international environmental experts, advocates and diplomats, the OAS Secretary General accentuated the shared burden of meeting the numerous challenges of sustainable development that must involve individuals, businesses and governments. In urging a move away from the “old outdated policies of the past,” Insulza called for “urgent and concerted action to ensure that energy uncertainty and unsustainable development practices do not throw our region’s prosperity into reverse.”

The reception was held on the final day of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States, as a collaboration involving the OAS, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and PODER magazine to develop sustainable energy throughout the Americas. It also provided an avenue for the OAS to help the NRDC promote its Spanish-language environmental program La Onda Verde (The Green Wave) and expand its outreach to Spanish-speaking communities of the United States and Latin America.

“The time has come for creative thinking and for a change in development and energy consumption ethics,” the OAS Secretary General asserted, calling on Latin American nations to “act with a sense of stewardship and responsibility to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future.” He explained that the expansion and diversification of the energy mix, energy efficiency, and energy cooperation and integration are among tools that countries have at their disposal to foster energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The NRDC’s Executive Director, Peter Lehner, described the need to rapidly transform energy systems and markets away from fossil fuels as “one critical element of the strategy to contain climate change.” He identified efficient light bulbs as a good start that would spare the atmosphere of thousands of tons of green houses gas while saving individuals and governments money.

Lehner explained climate change as “the largest threat facing our world today,” and called for “structure to provide expertise, financing and political will in every nation to tackle the problem of climate change.” Given that climate change is the NRDC’s number one priority, Lehner told the guests, the Council was eager to work with OAS and partners—civil society and NGOs government and business “to protect our climate and our future.”

He also spoke about the NRDC’s history of advocacy for the environment, including programs to help Costa Rica find ways to reduce electricity use while increasing the use of renewable energy and clean bio-fuels as steps toward “carbon neutrality.”

Guests also heard from Alvaro Umaña, the former Costa Rican government minister who is now UN Energy and Environment Group leader; award-winning National Public Radio (NPR) journalist Maria Hinojosa; and La Onda Verde Director Adrianna Quintero as master of ceremonies. The Grupo Folklórico de Panamá wrapped up the evening’s affair with spirited dance performances.

Reference: E-394/08