Wealthy nations try to eliminate energy goals
Renewable energy sources, such as wind power and solar energy, produce smaller and more expensive amounts of electricity than a traditional power plant. But the technologies generate a tiny fraction of the unhealthy smog that comes from burning oil, coal and other fossil fuels, as well as carbon dioxide and other gases believed to accelerate global warming.
The United States and Saudi Arabia were among several nations whose delegates were lobbying to eliminate specific goals to expand the use of renewable energy from the conference's implementation plan.
Even the European Union some members of which, such as Germany, strongly embrace renewables wavered on the agreement, which calls for renewable energy to increase worldwide by 15% by 2010.
"We may have to bend if we can't convince all of our partners," said EU official, Christine Day. "It's early in the negotiations."
The 10-day summit, which opened in Johannesburg on Monday, is focused on uplifting the world's poor and protecting the global environment. The United Nations expects it to be the largest summit in its history. More than 100 heads of state are scheduled to attend.
During yesterday's open session, delegates called for increased global efforts to bring new agricultural technologies to poor farmers and railed against European and American agricultural subsidies, saying they made it difficult for poor farmers to compete on the world market.
Non-governmental groups complained they were being sidelined at the summit, saying they had trouble getting seats at the main event, which is being held in a building that can't accommodate all of the accredited delegates.
Targets and timetables were added to the summit's implementation plan as organisers sought new ways to compel nations to live up to their pledges made in the heat of international diplomacy.
In the 10 years since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, treaties protecting biodiversity and limiting climate change have languished.
However, the US is seeking to erase specific targets and timetables on many topics throughout the implementation plan, which includes 150 pages addressing biodiversity, food security, clean water and health care.
Instead, US officials said they prefer voluntary partnerships with business and other groups.
In the United States, renewable energy provides 1% of the nation's total power supply despite recent expansions in wind turbine "farms" and other sources.
Delegates are circulating two energy agreements at the summit. One would eliminate all renewable target dates.
The alternative would have nations increase their share of renewable energy to 15% by 2010.
However, the broadly written definition of renewable energy would include hydroelectric dams and wood burning energy sources that conservationists harshly condemn.
Factoring in those sources, renewable energy already contributes 14% of power supplies worldwide.
That would make the increased contribution of other renewables just 1% a target which clean energy supporters call "totally unacceptable".
"Ministers must stop this process, which is producing nothing more than the lowest common denominator," said Jennifer Morgan of the World Wildlife Fund.
The renewables controversy has even raised some eyebrows in the business community.
"If renewable energy is to grow and costs are to go down, it will need targets and frameworks," said former Shell Oil chairman Mark Moody-Stuart.
He is also chairman of Business Action for Sustainable Development, an advocacy group organised following the Rio summit.
In the short term, development experts say renewable energy systems would best help poor isolated villages without connections to electricity grids.
A wind power turbine or cluster of solar energy panels would generate enough power to illuminate homes, refrigerate vaccines and power water pumps.
Over many decades, industrialised nations may shift from fossil fuels to plentiful, clean-burning hydrogen.
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