UNIDO- Mexico Global Renewable Energy Forum (GREF 2009)

The GREF 2009, held in León, Guanajato, 7-9 October 2009, was co-organized by Mexico through SENER (Energy Secretariat) and UNIDO. About 3,000 delegates participated, including governmental, academic, private sector and media representatives. GREF 2009 provided a high-level discussion framework about all renewable energy issues, with the participation of several prominent experts who shared their respective knowledge background. OLADE, ECLAC, REEEP, REN21, AFROLAC, CARICOM, IDB, GEF, GTZ, IEA, IRENA, GEA, IPP and several United Nations agencies were among the participants.
-    H.E. Mr. Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of Mexico,
-    H.E. Ms. Georgina Kessel, Secretary of Energy, Mexico
-    H.E. Mr. Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, Secretary of Environment, Mexico
-    Mr. Carlos Slim Helu, Chairman Grupo Carso
-    Mr. Carlos Arturo Florez Piedrahita, Executive Secretary, OLADE
-    Mr. Richard Moorer, Associate Undersecretary of Energy, US Department of Energy
-    Ms. Hélène Pelosse, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
-    Mr. Jorge Miguel Samek, Brazilian General Director, Itaipu Binational
-    Mr. Ged Davis, Council Co-President, GEA
By gathering a broad range of stakeholders, a suitable environment was created to strengthen interregional cooperation and encourage innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships aimed at scaling up investments in renewable energy. The Global Forum provided a platform for the promotion of renewable energy, thereby increasing the visibility of political commitments towards the development of alternative energy systems. It enabled multi-stakeholder dialogue and encouraged partnerships, as well as facilitated the development of innovative frameworks aimed at supporting initiatives related to clean energy.
The Global Forum featured a series of plenary sessions around the following themes:
-    Energy Poverty, Economic and Financial Crisis, and Climate Change
-    Renewable Energy and Energy Transition
-    Renewable Energy Potential
-    Renewable Energy and the Access Agenda
-    Biofuels
-    Investments in Renewables
-    Policy and Innovative Institutions
Parallel sessions convened stakeholders around specific topics, such as New Technologies, Industrial Applications and Energy Efficiency.