Strasbourg, 18/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The World Bank's energy strategy for the developing countries, which is due to be finalised in mid-May, should in particular examine the role of access to energy services in reducing poverty and the transition to ecologically sustainable development, whilst making sure that the private sector provides the poorest populations with maximum advantages, whilst tackling climate change. This is the wish list of the European Parliament, expressed in the resolution adopted in plenary in Strasbourg on 16 February, further to a question by Eva Joly (Greens, France) on the involvement of the European Commission in putting together this strategy.
Stressing the need to diversify the energy mix whilst taking account of problems caused by excessive dependency on a single source of energy, such as imported fossil fuels for electricity production, the Parliament recommends that the World Bank increase its investment in renewable energies and energy efficiency, whilst refraining from investing in large hydroelectric projects with negative social and ecological effects. Although it welcomes the commitment made by the World Bank to phase out loans to projects based on fossil fuels by 2015, the Parliament deplores the fact that the Bank continues to invest massively in coal-fired power stations and voices its “concern” at the fact that it considers hydroelectric energy, bio-fuel and nuclear energy to be clean energy alternatives.
Speaking out against the fact that it particularly encourages a large-scale energy model focusing on exports, instead of supporting small, decentralised energy projects which are better adapted and more efficient in responding to basic needs in rural areas, the Parliament urges the World Bank to prioritise access to energy on a small scale and at local level, particularly in the least-advanced countries of Africa and Asia, and to set in place innovative standards to protect the rights of communities and guarantee their access to energy, including green and low-carbon technologies. The MEPs also expressed alarm at the fact that much of the multilateral funding made available to financial intermediaries is not subject to sufficient controls.
Lastly, the Parliament encourages the World Bank to target its strategy towards the commercialisation and competitiveness of projects focusing on low-carbon intensity technologies, by means of innovative funding and institutional programmes, and stresses the importance of transfers of green technologies. (E.H./transl.fl)