Energaïa 2008, International renewable energies exhibition and
conference

From the 10th to the 12th December 2008, the 2nd edition of the Energaïa International renewable energies Exhibition and Conference took place in Montpellier. Plan Bleu and the World Bank have jointly organized, within the framework of the International conferences, a Euromediterranean Day in order to present and put forward for discussion the main results of their recent works regarding energy efficiency and renewable energies. This conference also aimed at capturing the reflections in progress in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries on the most strategic energy-consuming sectors, such as the building, industry, water and transport sectors.

The 1st session made it possible to set the major stakes and challenges faced by the region regarding energy and climate change, while highlighting the economic, environmental and social usefulness of a political response focused on the development of energy efficiency, as a priority, and on the promotion of renewable energies. Considering that an integrated energy saving policy should rely on coordinated actions between the different consuming sectors, the 2nd session highlighted the possible options, the bottlenecks and the proposed actions to be implemented in certain sectors identified as determining for the energy future of the region: water, building, industry and tourism. The 3rd and 4th sessions made it possible to analyze more deeply the situation of energy efficiency and renewable energies on country level, on the one hand, and in urban areas -with regard to two particularly strategic sectors, that of the building industry and that of urban transport-, on the other hand.

The different presentations and discussions underlined the fact that pursuing the current trends would inevitably reach energetic, climatic, but also social and economic impasses. The improvement of energy efficiency and the development of renewable energies are viable options for the Mediterranean region, with positive effects regarding employment. Thus, the financing of investments promoting energy efficiency and renewable energies constitutes a key issue in the framework of the Euromediterranean cooperation. The action on energy demand and on individual behaviors is also a key component for an integrated energy saving policy.

Programme of the Euromediterranean Day

Session 1 : Climate, Energy and Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean: Stock-taking and Prospects

1- General stock-taking of Climate and Impacts, Patrice MIRAN, Plan Bleu
2- Climate Change and Energy in the Mediterranean, Pierre ICARD, Plan Bleu
3- Energy Efficiency in the MENA Region, Silvia PARIENTE-DAVID, World Bank

4- Jobs, Climate Change and Energy in the EU: What Lessons for Mediterranean Countries?, Christian DUCHESNE, Syndex

Session 2 : Energy and Sectoral Experiences: Water, Building, Industry, Transport, Tourism

1- Water and Energy: Gaëlle THIVET, Plan Bleu
2- Building and Energy: Klaus WENZEL, MEDENEC
3- Industry and Energy: Mar Santacana, MAP/RAC Cleaner production
4- Tourism and Energy: Zoritsa UROSEVIC, World Tourism Organisation

Session 3 : National Experiences in the Field of Energy Conservation (with a focus on the building sector)

1- Country experience: Egypt: Adel Soliman BESHARA, Consultant
2- Country experience: Tunisia: Rafik MISSAOUI, Consultant
3- Country experience: Lebanon: Adel MOURTADA, Expert
4- Country experience: Turkey: Tülin KESKIN, Expert
5- Presentation of the IBMed Call for Projects, Dominique JARDINE, PACA Regional Council

Session 4: Experiences in Urban Transport 

1- Moroccan Reflection on a New Urban transport Development Policy, Abdellatif CHADALI, Director of urban planning

2- Cairo, EGYPT: Ali S. HUZAYIN , Vice-President of CODATU
3- Tunis, TUNISIA: Hassen ABID , Director General of ETIC
4- Istanbul, TURKEY: Haluk GERCEK, Istanbul Technical University

Tomorrow’s Euro-Mediterranean territory, or how to reconcile contraries for a sustainable development space: Wrap-up statement

 

 

 

 

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