Chania Declaration - Islands Towards 100% Renewable Energy

Chania eclaration

Islands - Towards 100% Renewable Energy Sources Supply

e, the participants ofthe Con-

Aware that, although if they are consid-

ference on "Renewable En-

ered individually, islands do not account

ergies for Islands - Towards 100% RES Supply", meeting in Chania

for a very high proportion of the European energy market, when taken as a

(Crete) on 14-16 June 2001,

whole we face a problem that affects 4% ofthe landmass and over 13 million Eu-

W

ropean citizens. And, furthennore, while islands are thus recognized as most vulConsidering that the energy dimension is a fundamental aspect ofthe future devel-

nerable to climate change, they have made the smallest contribution to its causes,

opment of islands, given their extreme dependence on extemal conventional energy sources, high costs and the unacceptable

Taking into account that most islands have abundant, though little used renew-

risks of supply security, Mindful that the environmental impact of

able energy sources whose distribution and potential for hybrid use is far more elosely in line with island needs, and that

conventional sources and technologies is greater than on the mainland because of

new renewable energy technologies allow for better integration than conventional

the fragile and vulnerable nature of island territories, thus endangering a European capital of the first magnitude,

systems, for reasons of scale, Mindful that in this context, the 1st Eu-

Taking into accountthat island energy op-

ropean Conference on Sustainable Island Development (1997), in its final declara-

tions progressively determine other essential aspects for sustainable island devel-

tion, established that ''Non-renewable en-

opment like water management and production and inland transport policies,

visional solutions, unsuitable as a longterm solution to the energy problem in is-

ergy sources must be considered as pro-

lands", Constdering that island economies have changed significantly in the direction of

Considering that artieles 154 and 158 of

new specialisation like tourism, creating new scenarios in which the demand for energy is characterised by enonnous vari-

the Amsterdam Treaty, and deelaration

ability, dispersion and even by large seasonal differences,

as a substantial difference in favour of

number 30 enclosed, establish basis enough for considering the island factor renewable energies,

Recalling the dispositions and recornmendations in favour of implementing renew-

ficient and rational use of energy as an indispensable condition for the big scale

able energy sources on a large scale in Eu-

implementation of RES.

ropean islands, which forro part of the Palma de Majorca Dec1aration of 20th March 1999, the Kos Resolution of 11th

Understand that, being the islands the main actors of change, we should con-

May 2000, the Madeira Dec1aration of 2001 and in the Cagliari Declaration ofthe

solidate the inter-island network cooperation for the development of demonstra-

24th ofFebruary, 2001,

tion projects and guarantee the mutual assistance as it is expressed for example in

Recognising

the rising model for the OPET European Islands.

that the idea of attaining

100% Renewable Energy Sources Supply has become a powerful metaphor for many islands, supported by the appear-

Agree to promote the consolidation of

ance of real projects that demonstrate the real possibility ofthis final objective and by the wide-spread wiIl of islands to es-

the 100% RES Island Network in the context of the 100 Cornmunities 100% RES European Initiative as a structural

tablish differentiated energy strategies based on a maximum use of renewable

reference for the improvement and rep-

energy sources.

lication of 100% RES solutions to other islands.

Confirm our definite cornmitment to fos-

Believe in the necessity of the develop-

ter the development ofthe renewable energies on our islands, which is aimed to

ment of different mechanisms that wiIl allow us to participate and involve the

reach the 100% of energy supply.

island cornmunities in the process of the decision-making in favour of the energy

Agree to share the experiences that derive from the 100% RES different initiatives with other cornmunities and island

sustainability.

regions ofthe world and to foster the ex-

the 100% RES Island Cornmunities should inc1ude all sectors related to trans-

change of information and solutions adopted with the aim to permit its replication in new initiatives.

Recognise the urgent necessity to generalize the measures that guarantee the ef-

Think that the cornmitment for building

port, water supply and management as weIl as the establishment of effective partnership within the new economy actors on the islands in particularly the related to the tourist industry.

Crete, 2001

•OPElI

,s.aaU INSULA • NTUA -RENES • ITER • ANCIM • HIIU MAAVALITSUS

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Energy, Environment, Sustainable Development