The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) -- organizes the United Nation's environmental activities, and helps developing countries develop environmentally sane polices and practices.
Mission: To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
When researching about the UNEP I was a little skeptical. Their mission statement, as seen above, is a little too vague for my taste. Words like "encourage" don't really say action to me. "Encourage ... peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations", Well, I'm sure we have some corporate moguls ready to argue that indulging in environmental practices will not improve the quality of life.
Needless to say I continued my research and found something I love. The UNEP have sponsored the development of solar loan programs, partnering with SEFI (Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative). These loan programs offer appealing rates, pad the initial cost of buying solar energy sources and encourage customers to consider buying solar PV (photovaltaic) systems.
In 2003 the UNEP sponsored a solar loan program in India helping 10,000 people in 18,000 households pay for clean energy from their PV solar electric home systems. The UNEP partnered with it's own Risoe Center and two of India's largest banking groups, Canara bank and Syndicate bank to establish a consumer credit market for solar home systems. The program was developed in Southern Indian where a conventional electricity grids are absent or unreliable and disperses loans to those who are interested in solar energy for their homes.
This successful project gained the UNEP's Indian Solar Loan Programme an Energy Globe award, the world's most prestigious environmental award, and encouraged similar projects today in Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, and Mexico.
Not only did this project encourage solar energy systems, it also boosted business for the banks involved. Although the banks did not profit directly from the $1 million interest rate reduction fund because benefits were passed onto customers, they still eagerly pushed the solar lending because, in turn they gained a whole new credit market.
The UNEP'S Solar Loan Programme is not only promoting an affordable energy source, but a smart, clean source as well.
for more information: Indian Solar Loan Programme
