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NETWORK ACTIVITIES

· INFORSE-EUROPE WEBSITE

The INFORSE-Europe website was updated regularly, and included information on activities, members and important links.
The website was improved and moved from OVE's homepage http//www.orgve.dk to the INFORSE homepage http://www.inforse.org/europe.
Inputs from members was put on the website, e.g. on cases on successes with sustainable energy.

Activities:
The website was updated 8 times. The website was improved with a frame-like structure, a section on European Energy Policy with regular updates, and a News Section.

The News Section got placed in the front at the first raw, including:
- Reminding of each new issue of Sustainable Energy News and Contact List, which are all downloadable in pdf format in about a week after they are published in paper format.
- Updates on INFORSE-Europe's Positions on EU Policy according to topics
- Call for the DIERET Online Education in English, and the announcing new possibilities in Russian, and Albanian
- 5 new Success Stories were uploaded at the beginning of the year and 7 New Success Stories were uploaded at the end of the year.
- Calls and proceedings for INFORSE.-Europe seminars
- New Visions for a sustainable energy development in Slovakia, Denmark and EU

Besides, the website includes descriptions from some organisations, which do not have their own website, or has difficulties in website mintenance. At the INFORSE-Europe’s cooperation projects in Belarus and Ukraine updated texts with more information and pictures are available.

· DIERET (Distance Internet Education on Renewable Energy Technologies)
This free internet-based course was continued and a CD with the study material was available free of charge for INFORSE-Europe organisations. A brochure was published in 2,000 copies, the material and the website was improved and a version in Albanian and Russian were started. The new round in 2002, was launched in September.

Introduction and moderation of the new round of the course:
- Announcing the DIERET course through different channels like internet web pages (inforse.org, cancee.org, fae.sk), by Sustainable Energy News, by printed flyers and one of the 14 posters exhibited at the Civil Society Forum parallel to the WSSD exhibition.
- Sending out information about DIERET to all people requesting more information about it (more than 200 e-mail requests until the December 31st, 2002)
- Communication with students: Collecting the applications, sending out study materials and study tests to students, Evaluating answers etc)
- For this course of DIERET we accepted 31 students from 21 countries and 5 continents. From the 31 students, 16 were European from 11 European countries. 6 students were from CEE countries.

- Printing and distribution of DIERET flyer etc.
DIERET flyer was designed (layout) and prepared for printing. Print of 2000 copies was done at Stredne Polygraficke uciliste in Slovakia. Flyers were distributed during World Summit in Johannesburg, the Sustainable Energy Seminar in Brussels (INFORSE November), and Bratislava (Ecoforum, December 8th) and other meetings with NGOs including the COP8 in New Delhi.

- Upgrade the study material of the DIERET
New chapter on geothermal energy was added into study material. This chapter consists of following subchapters: History of the development of geothermal energy, Systems, Heat pumps, Power production and Environmental issues related to utilization of geothermal energy.
Furthermore the chapter on wind energy was updated with the new data on recent development of wind utilization in the world. Some older data in the chapter on Solar energy were also changed (prices in old currencies like DM changed into EUR etc.)
New sections were developed on organisation, and policy development.

- Printing and distribution of Dieret CD ROM
DIERET CD ROM was designed in such a way that it includes:
- General information on Distance Internet Education on Renewable Energy Technology
- Word version of study text (200 pages) of comprehensive information on renewable energy technology,
- 100+ pictures and figures
- Questions to study materials
35 copies of CD ROM were produced (including print of labels and CD covers) and distributed to INFORSE member organizations.

- Translation of the DIERET
The Albanian version was translated by the member organisation Albanian Energy Club. The Russian version was translated by the member organisation of Belaya Rus, and it is planned to be reviewed by the Ukrainian member organisation FAE.

· SUSTAINABLE ENERGY NEWS
The newsletter Sustainable Energy News was published 4 times with information about activities from the network, news of European policy for sustainable development, interesting developments of sustainable energy in individual countries, interesting technical developments, news from other parts of the world and from international processes. The newsletter included the Annual Sustainable Energy Contact List with about 800 contacts of which about half are from EU and accession countries. Titles of themes were "Rio+10 results for sustainable energy development", “Energy Watch” We had high Focus on Europe on with more pages on Europe as usual. These included pages on INFORSE-Europe organisations´ activities, EU-Policy Update, Energy Partnership, and a Series of European Success Stories”.
While INFORSE-Europe was responsible for the production, other INFORSE regions provided information from other parts of the world, making the newsletter contribute to a North-South dialogue.

Activities:
Production of 4 issues of Sustainable Energy News and the Sustainable Energy Contact List in 2 parts including 800 organisational contacts worldwide. On the mailing list there are 1,800 contacts, from which about half are in the EU and the accession countries. It is also distributed by email to interested recipients and available from the website of www.inforse.org and of www.inforse.org/europe.

The following 4 issues were published in 2002:
· Issue March-April (Nr. 36): 12 pages. Printed in 800 copies 2 pages with black/green and 10 pages black. Posted in about 600 copies to members, subscribers, and exchange subscribers)
While the funding was uncertain the print and postage costs were lower than the usual level. However, compensating this, in the same time, we sent email message to our contacts that has email informing them that the issue is available from the internet and in text or pdf format it can be e-mailed upon request.
· Issue August (Nr. 37): 16 pages. Printed in 4,000 copies in the usual quality (8 pages with black/green + 8 pages 4 colours). Posted in about 600 copies to members and subscribers, and exchange subscribers
This was the INFORSE 10-year anniversary issue. While the funding was still uncertain the issue was posted in a limited number, but 2,000 copies were sent in packages to Johannesburg and they were all distributed at the Civil Society Forum parallel to the WSSD.
· Issue October (Nr. 38): 32 pages, including the 12-page European Contact List of 360 organisations. Printed in 3,000 copies in the usual quality (8 pages with black/green + 8 pages 4 colours). Posted in the usual number of 1,900 copies to all members, subscribers, exchange subscribers and contact organisations.
· Issue December (Nr. 39): 32 pages, including the 14-page Contact List (excl Europe) of 440 organisations. Printed in 3,000 copies in the usual quality (8 pages with black/green + 8 pages in 4 colours). Posted in the usual number of about 1,900 copies to members, subscribers, exchange subscribers and contact organisations.

Sustainable Energy News has been gratis to all members and to all NGOs when it is financially possible. The subscribtion for inviduals and businesses is 25 EUR/year.
Sustainable Energy News was distributed in all conferences and meetings where the network participated.

· ENERGY PLANNING MODELS FOR NGOs
Information was provided how to make national and local sustainable energy plans via the website and as part of the development of Vision2050 for three parts of the accession countries (see below), and for an NGO in Belarus. The information on the website was improved with information about local energy planning for municipalities.
Three NGOs (Foundation for Alternative Energy, Earth Friends - Galaci, and Emisszio) were assisted in development of simple energy plans, as part of work with Vision 2050 (see below). The tools were improved with development of a spreadsheet model, describing a long-term development in energy.

Activities: The members were informed about the facility via email. The tools were improved and testing started with the above-mentioned NGOs. The work was done as part of development of visions for sustainable energy (see below).

· COLLECTION OF SUCCESS-CASES
INFORSE-Europe members collected information on successes with sustainable energy in European countries, showing examples of local projects that contribute to meet Kyoto Protocol targets. The information is available on the INFORSE-Europe website. The data on sustainable energy was used for the development of energy plans. See above.

Activities:
- Collection of information for 11 (5 from 2001 and 6 from 2002) new successes are available on the website, and 2 in Sustainable Energy News No. 39.

· COOPERATION WITH OTHER INFORSE REGIONS
INFORSE-Europe co-operated with other regions of INFORSE-Europe on:
· Sustainable Energy News (see above),
· Following the political agenda of Rio+10 (WSSD, Aug-Sept Johannesburg),
· Following the UNEP Forum on Dams and Development, and
· Development of a world “Vision 2050” for a long-term sustainable development in energy, based on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

The network used INFORSE’s UN accreditation and participated in the “NGO Energy Caucus” for CSD and WSSD, to stay updated with the process, and to give relevant inputs. At the Rio+10 itself, the negotiations were followed by the two coordinators and one coordinator from a developing-country INFORSE region. The activities at WSSD, Johannesburg, Aug 26-Sept 4, 2002 included:
· Dialogue with the official negotiators on development of the WSSD Plan of Implementation
· Co-organising a side-event at the official conference, where INFORSE's vision was presented
· Co-organising a seminar at the parallel NGO-conference on Sustainable Energy Policies and Local Communities in co-operation with the Japanese and other INFORSE members,
· An exhibition booth at the parallel NGO conference with posters setting focus on the network and some of its activities such as Vision2050 and the possibilities for supplying the different societies in North and South with energy services from renewable energy.
After the WSSD, the network made a focus on the outcome of the conference: the Plan of Implementation and the energy-partnerships launched at WSSD, including the EU energy partnership.

For the Vision2050, INFORSE-Europe worked on national visions for Denmark and Slovakia as well as on local visions for an area in Hungary and Romania and a vision for EU, based on existing expert studies in the field. The visions of Denmark and Slovakia were presented at the European Energy Policy Seminar in Brussels in November and at the website while the vision for EU was presented on the website, and will be presented for the EU Parliament at a conference and in the "Parliament Magazine" in 2003.

· Cooperation with CEE NGOs on PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
The network was involved with joint project preparation with NGOs in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovenia. In cooperation with NGOs in Russia a project proposal was developed on democratic structures for sustainable energy developments. In cooperation with an NGO in Belarus a project proposal was developed on sustainable energy planning for Belarus. Finally, in cooperation with NGOs from Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovenia was developed a project proposal on sustainable heating. This included a preparation meeting in Budapest.

· COOPERATION WITH OTHER NETWORKS
The network continued its co-operation with Climate Action Network Europe, and invited 0the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy for cooperation.

The cooperation with CAN-Europe included exchange of information on EU policy issues and on WSSD issues. The coordinator from Slovakia was accredited and participated as a CAN-CEE representant at the COP8 of the UNFCCC in Delhi, at October 23.-November 2, 2002.

The network participated at the EUGENE conference in Brussels on November 27. INFORSE-Europe also cooperated with other networks on a number of policy issues. See below at European ECO-Forum, Follow Development in EU

· GENERAL MEETING
The Co-ordinators’ organised a General Meeting as an Email Conference in October 2002. It was planned that the next General Meeting should be in Wales UK at the member organisation of Centre for Alternative Technology in September 30 - October 4, 2003, where a Seminar will be also organised for the members.

LOBBY ACTIVITIES

· FOLLOW DEVELOPMENT IN EU
INFORSE-Europe continued to follow the development of EU’s energy policies. It followed all relevant policy processes, including measures for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol targets (European Climate Change Program initiatives), electricity market and nuclear energy.
Outputs:
-- Positions papers were made for Commission discussion paper on renewable energy for heating, four proposed directives, and other relevant EU policy developments. For the "buildings directive" is recommended a strong national implementation to yield the benefits if the initiative.

-- The position papers were sent to relevant authorities and the INFORSE members. They are also available on the website and described in Sustainable Energy News.

-- CEE NGOS were informed about EU policy matters through personal communications upon request and through the Slovakian coordinator's web page (www.fae.sk) where special links were prepared (EU Policy and Renewables) on relevant EU documentation. Short decription and analysis is given to the directive on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources and, the Green Paper "Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply".

- - The co-ordinator from Slovakia was selected by the Regional Environmental Center, and approved by the EU, to participate in the CEE NGOs’ EU Dialogue Group. In 2002, the co-ordinator from Slovakia participated in the Group´s meetings in Budapest and Brussels.

- - In 2002, November 28-29, 2002 INFORSE-Europe organised a Seminar "Sustainable Energy for Europe" in Brussels to enhance the dialogue between NGOs, the EU Commission and other stakeholders. Among the speakers were representatives of the relevant key actors of NGOs like Climate Action Network, Cogen-Europe, European Renewable Energy Federation, European Renewable Energy Council, and the relevant representatives of the EU Commission. In the Seminar, 12 persons represented 10 members from 5 CEE countries, and from 5 EU countries.

- - The network was invited by the Infrastructure for New Europe (IFNE) Summit‘02 to speak about the "Vision2050" for the energy infrastructure business organisations in Prague, November.

· EUROPEAN WIND CAMPAIGN
The European wind campaign was continued with presentation of results from Russia, but it was decided not to continue this as a separate campaign, but to integrate further activities with Vision2050.
· European ECO-FORUM / Pan-European Energy Efficiency
INFORSE-Europe continued to co-ordinate the ECO-Forum's Working Group on Energy & Climate. Emphasis was given to proposals for co-operation on sustainable energy on Pan-European level.

Activities:
Participation in:
· The Energy Charter PEEREA working group (on energy efficiency) by Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE-Europe Coordinator
· European ECO-Forum Coordination meeting in Geneva by Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE-Europe Coordinator
· European ECO-Forum Strategy Meeting in Bratislava (5 persons: Gunnar Boye Olesen, Emil Bedi INFORSE-Europe Coordinators, members from Romania, Ukraine, Belarus)
· United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Working Groups on Environment and on Sustainable Energy in Geneva.
- "Joint Energy/Environment Task Force on Reforming Energy Prices for Sustainable Development, 1st Session", 18-19 November
- "Committee on Sustainable Energy 12 th Session" at 20-21 November,
(3 persons: two INFORSE-Europe Coordinators, member organisation HELIO, France)

Development of proposals to the PEEREA WG, to the ECO-Forum Bratislava Declaration, and to the UNECE Guidelines on reforming energy prices and subsidies. The proposals were presented for the relevant bodies, sent to interested NGOs and summarised in Sustainable Energy News and on the website.

· OTHER Matters

Registration of INFORSE-Europe
INFORSE-Europe is a non-profit, non-governmental association and with Bylaws approved by members in 1994. Until 2001, the INFORSE-Europe financial management was made by the member organisation OVE, The Danish Organisation for Renewable Energy, Aarhus, Denmark, and the Foundation for Alternative Energy (FAE), Bratislava, Slovakia.
In 2002, as a condition of the EU Civil Society support, INFORSE-Europe became registered as a separate fiancial entity in Denmark with own bank account on the address: Gl. Kirkevej 82, DK-8530 Hjortshøj. Danish registration number: SE NR: 26497531.

Funding INFORSE-Europe Activities
INFORSE-Europe received funding for 2002 from several sources:
- The European Commission DG Environment Civil Society Support supported the 75% of the overall budget of INFORSE-Europe in 2002.
- The Danish Open Air Council, Small Project Fund supported the INFORSE-Europe cooperation project among the member organisations on the DIERET, sustainable energy planning, success cases.
- The member organisation of Danish Antinuclear Movement (OOA) closed down, and donated a smaller amount to the INFORSE activities.
- The member organisation Forum for Energy and Development (FED), which got closed down, and also donated a smaller amount for continuing INFORSE activities.
- Paying subscribers to the Sustainable Energy News also contribute to the budget.