7.6.4 Non-Governmental Organisations
Within Countries
During the last quarter century, the growing attention given to energy efficiency
and renewable energy and environmental issues has seen the creation and growth
of NGOs, which are playing an increasingly influential role in all forms of
technology transfer. NGOs provide an organisational focus for public concerns
about energy and environmental issues; influence public policies at the local,
state and national levels; represent their members' priorities in interaction
with governments, businesses and industry; and sometimes are able to initiate
programmes more rapidly and at lower costs than the traditional government programme.
Among Countries
The influence of NGOs within developed countries has been transferred by international
NGOs and government programmes to developing and transitioning countries. With
this support, energy conservation centres have been created in many countries,
including Russia, China, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine,
India, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Korea and Thailand. The centres perform numerous
functions, including public education, energy audits, professional training,
development of model legislation, demonstration projects, and innovative financing
schemes (IIEC, 1996).
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