WISIONS of sustainability

WISIONS provides consulting support to ensure the potential seen in visions of renewable energy and energy efficiency can become mature projects through its Sustainable Energy Project Support: SEPS

WISIONS also promotes good practice in resource efficiency through its publication of relevant successful projects in its Promotion of Resource Efficiency Projects: PREP

WISIONS Technology Radar (coming soon)

WISIONS will analyse and present current and future sustainable and successful energy technology solutions.

The purpose will be not only to highlight technical issues, but also to illustrate social and economic aspects that are essential for the sustainable and successful implementation of energy technologies.

WISIONS – 4 Years of Progress

Since its formation four years ago, WISIONS has launched an annual call for SEPS applications. Following its successful conception in 2004, SEPS has become well- established as a supporting scheme for sound sustainable energy projects. For the third round of applications, in 2006, the total annual grant fund was increased to €500,000. A total of 47 SEPS projects have so far been selected for support, covering a broad array of innovative sustainable energy solutions in more than 36 countries.

From 2004 to 2008 WISIONS also launched 12 PREP calls, inviting the submission of good practice examples in the field of sustainable energy and resource efficiency. Each call focused on one particular topic in this field and, following the successful publication of a dozen interesting and comprehensive issues filled with more than 50 good practice projects from all over the world, WISIONS has decided to close PREP and to take a step forward.

The experience gained by WISIONS, through its engagement in various project types, regions and technologies, shows that additional, detailed and quality technology-specific information, as well as examples of successfully implemented technologies, is essential - but often lacking. Therefore, WISIONS is taking a step forward by focusing on sustainable energy technology issues through the new WISIONS technology radar

Background to WISIONS

Sustainable development is possible. Numerous innovative and valuable contributions, from different countries, fields and institutions, have shown that an appropriate reconciliation of economic, ecological and social factors is not unrealistic utopia. We have made a promising start, but the greatest challenge facing us in the 21st century is to learn how to use the world's resources more efficiently, and in an ecologically sound and socially balanced way.

Sixteen years after the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro and eight years after the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals, many people and developing countries still lack access to resources and clean technologies. At the same time, people continue to live using unsustainable ways of consumption and production.

To meet global challenges like climate change, water scarcity and poverty, it is necessary to foster projects of potential strategic global importance. We can do this by supporting them so they can be implemented locally. Also examples of good practice need to be actively promoted to a wider audience.

The Focus of WISIONS

WISIONS is an initiative of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, organised with the support of the Swiss-based foundation ProEvolution, to foster practical sustainable energy projects.

>> Wuppertal Institute

Background

The Wuppertal Institute is interdisciplinary in nature and has, since its establishment 18 years ago, been actively involved in promoting the cause of sustainability. Founded in the challenge of learning to obtain ”more for less”, as well as the importance of ”being more” rather than ”having more”, the Institute is working to overcome the ”Cold War” between economy and ecology.

The Wuppertal Institute develops guiding principles and concrete concepts in the areas of energy, transport, material flows and structural change, climate policy and eco-efficient enterprises, as well as creating new and innovative models of wealth. In these areas, the Institute assumes the role of mediator, providing links between politics, economics, science and society.

The Research Group I (Future Energy and Mobility Structures) manages WISIONS projects in close co-operation with the Swiss-based foundation ProEvolution.

Philosophy

The Wuppertal Institute is an independent organisation acting as a link between science, politics and society. Our guiding principle:

”The Wuppertal Institute researches and develops strategies and tools for sustainable development on a local and global level. At the centre of its work is the Earth's ecosystems and their interaction with the economy and society.
The analysis and introduction of innovations to limit the use of natural resources whilst creating better standards of living are the main focus of its research.“

For more information about the Wuppertal Institute, please visit our website using the link below

Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

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