Sustainable Development is Not Possible Without Sustainable Energy

Dear GENI Friend,

This month marks the 20^th Anniversary of the Earth Summit, and world leaders are convening at Rio+20 to address the pressing energy, water, pollution and development issues of our planet.  The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has targeted 90 specific goals, and so far only 4 have achieved real progress: reducing ozone pollution, removing lead from fuel, increased access to clean water and research to protect the marine environment.  Little or no progress is seen on 24, including climate change, fish stocks, desertification and drought.

The UNEP released its latest report GEO-5, a Global Environmental Outlook prior to the Rio+20 conference to spur action on the unfinished business.  The report states that ‘if humanity does not urgently change its ways, several critical thresholds may be exceeded, beyond which abrupt and generally irreversible changes to the planets’ life support could occur.’ UNEP Director Achim Steiner, who has endorsed the GENI initiative, said “the  GEO-5 report reminds us why a decisive and defining transition towards low-carbon, resource efficient, job-generating Green Economy is urgently needed.”

This year UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon (above) launched the “Sustainable Energy For All” initiative stating, “Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, social equality and environmental sustainability.” This sounds a lot like the GENI message for the past 25 years!

We are ramping up our efforts.  GENI has 50 international interns this summer working to drive the clean energy agenda on all continents.  We invite you to share this work, visit us in San Diego, watch us on-line and support our students with a financial grant to GENI.  They are making a huge difference and we invite you to do the same.

In partnership for the planet,

p.s. Join us in San Diego this summer for the lunchtime series: “High Noon – 20 Global problems and 10 Years to Solve Them” – invite your friends or join us Live at: www.ustream.tv/channel/wrsc

P.S. Review each of our projects, and Register your interest and ideas:

• Global Energy Network Institute (register)
• World Resources Simulation Center (register)
• Village Projects (register)

We invite your support of our work. It’s easy with our secure Support page.