WISIONS of Sustainability - a Global Search

"Think global - act local", is principle of vital importance to realise the implementation of sustainable development. Numerous ambitious ideas already exist. Sharing experiences and concepts of successful projects from other regions is helpful in realising those ideas.

WISIONS is a new initiative of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. Its objective is to identify promising sustainable projects and to combine spreading knowledge of existing projects with promoting and furthering new project ideas. Regarding the aims of the upcoming conference "Renewables 2004", especially intelligent and sustainable energy projects are of strategic global importance need to be implemented.

WISIONS is carried out with the support of the Swiss-based foundation ProEvolution.

Two fields of action will be addressed: SEPS and PREP.

SEPS, the Sustainable Energy Project Support, aims at supporting promising project ideas in the field of sustainable and efficient energy on a worldwide scale. SEPS seeks to overcome the existing barriers by providing e.g. procurement of practical expert advice, potential financial support or support for obtaining additional funding. The projects have to be in a stage prior to implementation and will be judged according to a set of ambitious criteria and the quality of a consistent implementation strategy.

PREP, the Promotion of Resource Efficiency Projects, has the key objectives of detecting and promoting existing replicable "good practice examples" in energy and resource efficiency. The considered topics and the target groups will vary regularly. First topic is "resource-efficiency in the construction sector" with its main emphasis on the efficient use of energy and renewables. The most convincing projects will be promoted and published in a brochure and on the Internet. By doing this the ideas and concepts will be accessible on a worldwide scale. This exchange of knowledge is very important for pushing new initiatives and engaging creative minds and working hands for taking a step forward to sustainable development.

For more information about WISIONS, the current topics, guidelines for application, and initiative's progress, please visit the website at www.wisions.net.

Press release by Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

in the Science Centre North Rhine-Westphalia

Responsible: Prof. Dr. Peter Hennicke, President

Contact: Dorle Riechert, Public Relations

Tel. +49 (0)202 2492-180, Fax +49 (0)202 2492-108

E-mail: pr@wupperinst.org