Second Latin American Regional Workshop on Energy Efficiency Standards & Labelling

Between 22 and 23 March 2001, the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) of the International Energy Agency, in cooperation with the Collaborative Labelling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) and the Argentinian Standardisation Institute IRAM, organised the Second Latin American Regional Workshop on Energy Efficiency Standards & Labelling.

The workshop, which was a follow-up of the First Regional Workshop on Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (S&L) in Mexico City (see previous article), mainly focused on issues and options for more concrete S&L initiatives in Latin America in the near future.

Main issues discussed during the workshop included:

  • The role of governments, standardisation institutes and private actors in promoting consistent energy efficiency policies and S&L initiatives in the region;
  • The need to clarify the role of energy policy in implementing S&L schemes in Latin America (in most countries, the process of developing and implementing testing procedures and labels seems to be driven by standardisation institutes and industry, with little active involvement of governments);
  • Some fundamental questions referring to the issues like: compulsory vs. voluntary, labelling only or in combination with mandatory minimum efficiency standards, voluntary agreements as alternatives for market enforcing standards;
  • Harmonisation of S&L on a regional or sub-regional basis (with interest focussing on sub-regional harmonisation schemes, in particular in the Mercosur region).

As a major outcome of the workshop, CTI presented the Latin America Efficiency Action Plan (LEAP), which purpose will be to jump-start the process of implementing harmonised sub-regional standards and labels, focussing on the Mercosur region. LEAP will be a joint effort of CTI and CLASP, involving partners, sponsors and stakeholders from inside and outside the region.

Presentation by Wolfgang F. Lutz: “Normalización y etiquetado de eficiencia energética en América Latina – como aprovechar de la experiencia europea“.

April 2001