Despite a strong increase in the interest for renewable energy technologies, business-as-usual scenarios depict an energy future largely dominated by fossil fuels. Dedicated actions are therefore required for profiling renewable energy as an attractive alternative to fossil-based energy.

A significant share of the world’s population relies on traditional biomass. Providing impoverished communities with access the modern, reliable, environmentally-sound energy services is often seen as a prerequisite to development. Renewable energy has a key role to play in this regard. For instance, small-scale renewable technologies are often particularly appropriate for providing remote communities with adequate energy services.

The high volatility in regard to fossil energy prices represents a challenge for development and a barrier to investments. At the same time, it is an opportunity for market forces to gradually shift towards alternative sources of energy, such as "renewables", provided that enabling policies and supporting institutions are in place. For instance, wind energy has experience rapid growth over the recent years. Furthermore, a diversification of energy sources and the use of domestic renewable energy in particular assist in mitigating national energy security concerns.

The global economic and financial crisis could have a major impact on energy financing. Some sources suggest that the financing for energy infrastructure will be severely affected – a view that is somewhat moderated by a more optimistic outlook from the renewable energy market. However, some shortfall in the financing for energy sector could be expected.

There is a very high potential for renewable energy in most world regions. Specifically, there are large untapped opportunities to use renewable energy for productive uses and industrial applications. Yet, the full potential does not unfold for the numerous challenges and barriers a wide-spread deployment of renewable energy faces. It is crucial to address those challenges and barriers in a timely and comprehensive fashion.

Enhanced international cooperation is central to achieving a transition to a “green economy” and “green industry”. In this regard, energy constitutes one of the core issues. Despite its unrivalled capacity to raise awareness, bring the stakeholders together and galvanize international action, until recently the United Nations has not been able to fully leverage its strengths and leadership potencial in the field of energy. in response UN-Energy, an inter-agency mechanism composed of 20 UN system organizations, has been established to promote coherence in the UN system’s multidisciplinary response to the energy-related decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and to effectively engage with non-UN stakeholders. It is making a major effort to ensure that the UN system, together with the World Bank, contribute in areas where strategic interventions would have a major impact. More recently, it has sought to use this excellent platform to support the efforts of countries to reach the MDGs and to address the challenges of climate change. While UN-Energy will continue to play a key role, additional efforts are required to elevate the role of the UN system in the global energy scene and to spur international action towards a low carbon economy.

It is in this context that the Minister of Energy of Mexico and the Director-General of UNIDO have decided that the organization of the Global Renewable Energy Forum would be timely. The purpose of this Global Forum is to discuss the role of renewable energy in the context of the most pressing global challenges.