In a press release of 6 December 2005, the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) noted that almost 10,000 participants were currently at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal (COP 11) discussing ways to mitigate climate change. As the Association commented, renewable energies were playing an increasing though not yet sufficient role in many discussions during COP 11. WWEA called upon the COP 11 to recognise the full benefits of renewable energies, stop the proliferation of obsolete technologies and take into account the externalities of all energy sources.
WWEA Senior Vice President, the Hon. Peter Rae AO, stated during COP 11: ‘It is a matter of urgency to present to the world community again and again the manifold benefits of renewable energies which offer the only viable long-term solution for the mitigation of climate change. Following the current discussions here in Montreal, we will even have to strengthen our efforts in the future to spread this message amongst governments around the world and to make sure that renewable energies will be given special consideration in the frameworks for the post-2012 period.’ WWEA therefore jointly with the International Hydropower Association and the International Solar Energy Society has been active in the International Renewable Energy Alliance in presenting a strong combined effort at the UN climate conference. Mr Rae underlined the need to combine the different renewable energy sources: ‘We need the full orchestra of all the renewable energies working together to maximise their output. One excellent example has been presented at COP 11 by Hydro Quebec, which has announced that they will install 3,500 MW of wind energy in the coming ten years. This wind power capacity will be installed in addition to the existing hydropower schemes, in order to use the operational and economic synergies which are available from the combination of these two technologies.’
