ISLAMABAD, Feb 10: Developed countries need to be persuaded for technology transfer to the developing nations, especially to the third world countries, for the exploration of renewable energy resources.

This was observed by the participants at the first day of a two-day international conference on "Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Development".

The event was jointly organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Comsats), Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies, and Global Change Impact Studies Centre on Tuesday.

In their presentations, experts from different countries said energy had begun to play a more crucial role than ever in the development of any nation. It impacts way of living, livelihood, growth and progress not only at a collective level, but also at the individual and grassroots level.

Therefore, the renewable energy resources and technologies have the potential to provide lasting solution to the problems being faced by the industry and economy, environment and the masses in the conventional forms of energy.

It is only through the exploitation of this potential that the socio-economic development of nations can continue without hindrance, the experts said. Renewable energy sources, among many others, include wind, sunlight, ocean and biomass.

The participants vowed to promote clean and renewable energy technologies for meeting the national energy demand for sustainable development. Presiding over the inaugural ceremony, in charge of science and technology ministry, Prof Attaur Rahman, pledged government's commitment to reinforce national energy sector with renewable energy technologies.

He said the government was developing a "national vision" for instituting science and technology at the grassroots level in the country. He urged the developing countries to direct their efforts towards harnessing renewable energy technologies.

In this regard, he said, human resource development was of critical importance which could help countries improve the quality of energy and offer inexhaustible and environment- friendly solutions to the problems created by fossil-fuel based energy sources.

The participants of the inaugural session included dignitaries from the diplomatic circles, heads of S&T organizations, eminent scientists, scholars and researchers, representatives from bureaucracy and members of the donor and development community.

Speaking on the occasion, Comsats executive director Dr Hameed A. Khan welcomed the participants and lauded the efforts made by Dr Ata in promoting science and technology in the country.

Unquestionably, many of the accomplishments of modern civilization have been achieved through efficient use of various forms of energy to enhance human capacities and ingenuity, Dr Khan said.

However, the way forward now for developing and developed countries alike is to discover environment-friendly, non-fossil sources of energy which are essentially renewable, he said.

Earlier, Prof (Dr) Preben Maegaard, president of World Wind Energy Association (Germany), expressed his concern over the mounting stress on fossil-fuel resources.

He said the developing countries, in collaboration with developed world, should disseminate renewable energy technologies globally. Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies director general Dr Arshad M. Khan highlighted the issues concerning development of renewable technologies.

On day one, the proceeding included three technical sessions, in which 12 foreign and local experts made presentations. The recommendations and summary of the meeting are to be presented in the concluding session, which will be presided over by Alternative Energy Development Board chairman Air Marshal Shahid Hamid.