Harare, 16 September {No. 96-160}- Members of the World Solar Commission of 15 heads of state and government on Saturday unanimously endorsed the draft Harare Declaration on Solar Energy and Development, which is expected to be officially adopted by leaders and delegates from more than 80 countries at the close tomorrow of the World Solar Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Three heads of state and government and 12 personal representatives of commission members took part in the day-long session, the final preparatory meeting prior to the opening today of the World Solar Summit at the Harare International Conference Centre. A total of 17 heads of state and government are scheduled to speak over the coming two-day summit, the first of its kind and the culmination of more than three years of preparation since a conference on the Sun in the Service of Mankind held at UNESCO Headquarters.
"The issues that are contained in the draft declaration are of critical concern to us all, not least among them is the need for the full involvement of all sectors of the economy in the development and utilisation of solar energy," said President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, the chairman of the UNESCO-created commission.
The chairman's appeal for broad partnership was echoed by the majority of participants. President Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari of Pakistan called for full interaction between the World Solar Commission and all governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the scientific community. Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia highlighted the commission's emphasis on existing institutional frameworks and co-operative networks rather than on creating new national and international bureaucracies.
"The process should not be seen as a UNESCO programme but a programme of the international community as a whole, to be executed by a variety of actors," added UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor. The Director-General made these comments after reading a letter from United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali endorsing UNESCO's work in preparing the summit. In his speech, Mr Mayor spoke not only of the environmental benefits of renewable energy, but also its potential value in promoting a culture of peace and in improving health, education and the quality of life in rural and remote areas.
Harijono Djojodihardjo, the personal representative of President Suharto of Indonesia, endorsed the draft declaration for reflecting "the wishes, aspirations and vision of the world community to take best advantage of solar and renewable energy." Isabel Tocino, Spain's minister of the environment representing King Juan Carlos, welcomed the special reference to women found in the draft declaration.