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In the course of the conference, attention was drawn to the following facts:
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1. The current and an even further increasing world energy demand results in: conflicts for the limited fossil resources; climate changes and other environmental degradations. |
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2. The growing costs of fuels from the limited fossil resources are a mounting burden for the economies and people, in particular in developing countries. |
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3. The desert regions of the world are scarce in water but rich in renewable energy resources: within 6 hours they receive more energy from the sun than the world is using in one year. |
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4. The use of renewable energy resources, albeit abundant is still very low in all countries of arid and desert areas. |
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5. The high rate of ground water extraction in the MENA and the South-European countries is unsustainable, leading to the depletion of aquifers, to the decrease of their levels and increase of their salinity. Hence more energy is demanded for desalination and pumping.
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In view of the indicated problems the participants of the conference call for the following proposed measures as part of a road map for their resolution: of a road map for their resolution:
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1. All countries of arid and desert areas should urgently introduce legal obligations for the use of renewable energies, and implement policies to accelerate their introduction. The conference recommends to focus in particular on:
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a- Solar collectors for water heating and for cooling in residential and commercial applications. |
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b- Concentrated solar thermal energy for industrial process heat, and for electricity generation for domestic needs and eventually for export to other countries. |
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c- Grid connected large scale wind power. |
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d- Small wind energy converters and solar systems for power supply, desalination and improvement of living conditions in deserts. |
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2. Considering the importance of such global conferences the GCREADER conference should be held each other year. It is suggested to focus the 2008 conference on water and renewable energy issues in the MENA and South-European region. |
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3. The Energy Centre at University of Jordan should work towards establishing an international network of experts, scientists and policy-makers in these areas for cooperation towards the above goals. |
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4. All countries of arid and desert areas should make use of globally available technology for renewable energies and enhance their own efforts in research and development, education and equipment manufacturing in cooperation with leading technology developers. |
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5. All countries of arid and desert areas are encouraged to put the deserts in service for global renewable clean energy. |
Energy Declaration “Amman 2009”