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The World Conference 'Energy for Development' took place in the Netherlands from 12 - 14 December 2004. Minister for Development Cooperation, Mrs. van Ardenne and State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Mr. van Geel chaired the event. The conference was organised in cooperation with the Worldbank, the UNDP and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Energy for poverty eradication, energy for economic development, the relationship between energy and environment and health issues and the ways in which public and private investments in the energy sector in developing countries can be increased were the main issues discussed.

In the chair's conclusions Minister van Ardenne and State Secretary van Geel call upon governments, business sector, international development organisations and non governemental organisations to work out concrete commitments for the next cycle of the UN-Commission on Sustainable Development (2006/2007) where energy, next to industrial development, climate and atmosphere will be the topic. More specifically was called upon for commitments for widening access to energy services for the poor, mainstreaming energy in the development process, improving the health and environmental situation, improving the market conditions in the energy sector and generating the necessary financial means. Better incorporation of energy in the process to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and in the national policy programmes were broadly supported.