The document discusses Venezuela's initiatives and commitments to renewable energy development despite its vast oil reserves. It notes that Venezuela has invested in hydropower for decades, with hydroelectricity now accounting for over 70% of its energy. More recently, Venezuela has partnered with other nations like Portugal to develop wind and solar projects. It aims to source 20,000 MW from wind by 2020 and decrease its dependence on non-renewable sources over time. The document argues that if other nations follow Venezuela's lead in renewable energy, it could help address issues like climate change and energy access.

1. Committee: General Assembly (GA Plen)
Topic: The human right to renewable energy as energy independence for all.
Country: Venezuela
Delegates: Md Bhuiyan and Maria Marionkova, Brooklyn Technical High School
When speaking in regards to alternative energy and the human right to it, controversy erupts as to
the exact energy being conveyed. The environment is crucial to human life since it is our habitat and we
need that habitat to flourish to continue living, that is why we must proceed with our actions with caution
to make sure we do not damage our home especially when regarding the energy we use in our daily life.
Regardless of Venezuela obtaining vast forms of non-renewable fossil fuels and energy sources, it has
taken initiatives to fund the nation with renewable energy projects despite recent meteorological issues.
Despite these issues, the Venezuelan government continues to show efforts of developing new plans
recognizing that using renewable energy as alternative energy is ideal since it can be widely manufactured
with the use of basic equipment and natural processes. Venezuela, understanding how pivotal the
dilemma is, has come together with other nations and made agreements knowing renewable energy is key
to avoid undesired consequences such as adding emissions to the atmosphere and worsening the problem
of global warming and climate change.
Although Venezuela boasts possibly having the largest oil reserves in the world, its government
has been taking initiates to make it a country dependent on renewable energy sources a very long time
ago. During the 1960s, Venezuela’s government decided to minimize power production from fossil fuels
and so looked for alternative sources of energy. In 1963, the construction of the Guri Dam had begun and
it had been completed in 1969.[1] The Guri Dam became a major success as it was able to dish out
significant amounts on the required power; open seeing these successes, Venezuela decided to construct a
few more dams later on. These dams continue today to be a major source of energy for the nation.
However, unfortunately there has been a minor problem with the dams as of 2010 as prolonged drought
has decreased the water level, and so has decreased energy production capabilities. In order to put an end
to this crisis, Venezuela plans to boost its thermal, hydroelectric, and wind power generation capacity by
2015.[2] With recent investments by the government, thermal generation has increased significantly.
Furthermore, Venezuela is poised to create wind farms that will generate 1600 MW of electricity by
2020; it is already working on three wind projects to make this a reality.[3] Venezuela is often called a
“petro state” that uses renewable energy and thanks to the hard work of its people, it shall stay that way.
Despite having a seemingly overloading supply of natural reserves, Venezuela has pushed to be a
more profound member of the renewable energy group especially since the climate has had severe
impacts on the environment and its inhabitants. Although negotiations and some compromises have been
made between Venezuela and nations such as China and Argentina, the most prominent deal was the
Venezuelan government’s agreement with Portugal for the latter to sponsor four wind renewable energy
projects in the country as a way to start a renewable energy revolution. [3][4] This deal seems to be very
fruitful, not only for both nations economically, but because the Wind Power Class system ranking
Venezuela a 6 out of a scale of 1 to 7, where 7 is the highest determinate for whether wind power
generation is doable. [3] Venezuela has even taken a step to come together with other Latin American
nations on improving the role of renewable energy and joint projects of such when signing the Energy
Treaty of ALBA in 2007.[5] At the V Summit where the nations came together, it was recognized that
establishment of an energy consumer pattern was needed to preserve the scare nonrenewable and natural
resources; as well as the need for changed conditions concerning the financial and hydrocarbon markets

2. and to guarantee people the right of accessibility to energy resources.[5] While working on internal
issues, Venezuela has still not forgotten other nations as well such as Nicaragua when they experienced
energy shortages. Recently, the Venezuelan government worked with Nicaragua to aid them by installing
additional energy capacity resulting to 41% more production in energy than five years prior. [6]
The national and international effort to increase the use of renewable power in Venezuela has
shown to be fruitful. Hydropower has been the bulk of Venezuela’s energy source for quite some time.
According to the International Energy Agency, hydroelectricity accounted for 66% of the nation’s power
in 2003.[7] This figure has increased to over 70% in 2004, and to 82% in 2010. The Guri Dam accounts
for the bulk of the hydroelectricity produced, but other methods of energy production have been
increasing. As per thermal energy, BMI forecasts that Venezuela will account for 10% of thermal
generation in Latin America by 2015.[8] For wind power, officials estimate that Venezuela will be able to
produce much more than 1,600 MW, going as high as 20,000 MW. Venezuela is hopeful that its
dependence on nonrenewable energy shall greatly decrease over the years.
Although many nations are having trouble with their vast consumption of nonrenewable,
Venezuela is defying the odds. It can easily choose to use its own oil if it wished, but it is one of the
renewable energy using nations in the world. In order for other nations to use less fossil fuels and “be
greener”, Venezuela urges them to make serious investments in renewable energy. For countries that do
not have enough energy in the first place, Venezuela wishes that the international community help them
get started in the right direction. If nations would seriously follow in Venezuela’s footsteps, many world
problems such as environmental refugees or climate change may be solved.
[1] "Guri Dam (dam, Venezuela)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 29
Feb. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/249657/Guri-Dam>.
[2] "PressTV - Venezuela Invests in Alternative Energy." Press TV. 19 Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.
<http://presstv.com/detail/165998.html>.
[3] Vo, Danny. "Venezuela to Become a Leader in Renewable Energy in South America." Solar Energy.
18 Mar. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.solarenergy.net/News/2011031801-venezuela-to-
become-a-leader-in-renewable-energy-in-south-america.aspx>.
[4] “Portugal and Venezuela Ink Renewable Energy Deal” Solar Feeds. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.solarfeeds.com/portugal-and-venezuela-ink-renewable-energy-deal/>
[5] “Energy Treaty of ALBA” ALBA-TCP. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.alba-
tcp.org/en/contenido/energy-treaty-alba>
[6] Rogers, Tim. “Nicaragua’s Renewable Energy Revolution Underway”. The Nicaragua Dispatch. 18
Jan. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/politics/nicaragua’s-renewable-
energy-revolution-underway/1897>
[7] "Venezuela: Energy Overview." BBC News. BBC, 16 Feb. 2006. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4692534.stm>.
[8] "Venezuela Power Report Q2 2011." By Business Monitor International in Venezuela, Electricity.
Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.marketresearch.com/Business-Monitor-International-v304/Venezuela-
Power-Q2-6279376/>.