European Energy Conservation Strategy

NGOs are invited to participate

In January, the Environmental Committee of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) decided to develop a European Energy Conservation Strategy with the following elements:

· presentation of (good) energy-conservation programs of countries in transition, in the form of a White Paper,

· guidelines for national strategies and aims, as well as for international cooperation,

The White Paper and guidelines will be developed by an expert group during 1997. A draft will be presented to the ECE Environmental Committee in the beginning of 1998 and later to the Pan-European Environmental Ministers' meeting in Århus Denmark in 1998.

NGOs are invited to participate in the work. The 'Energy and Climate Group' of the NGO Coalition "Environment for Europe" that follows the preparations of the environmental ministers meeting in Århus will make sure that NGOs are represented. The coordinators of the 'Energy and Climate Group' are: Gunnar Olesen. INFORSE-Europe/ OVE, and Toni Vidan, Green Action Zagreb.