Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity

The Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity (GERES, also written Geres) is a French international development non-governmental organisation set up in Marseille in 1976. It was founded on 14 September 1976, in the aftermath of the first oil crisis, at the initiative of teachers and researchers working with Georges Peri, under the name Groupement pour l'Exploitation Rationnelle de l'Energie Solaire (Group for the Rational Use of Solar Energy). Its original purpose was to connect researchers and professionals in order to develop solar energy solutions. Over the following decades GERES broadened its scope and changed its name several times: in 1986 to Groupe Energies Renouvelables (Renewable Energies Group), in 1994 to Groupe Energies Renouvelables et Environnement (Renewable Energies and Environment Group), and finally in 2008 to Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités (Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity). In 2004 it launched CO2Solidaire, described as the first French carbon offsetting programme. GERES specialises in sustainable and renewable energies, climate change and environmental protection. It works for an energy transition, natural resource conservation and improved living conditions for local people, both in Europe and in the developing world. Its activities are organised around five core themes: clean energy production; energy efficiency and energy saving; economic development; local policy and land use; and climate change. Geographically it concentrates on four broad areas — Europe and the Mediterranean, West Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia — and is present in a dozen or so countries, working alongside local development actors. On the ground, GERES runs practical projects such as SOAP II (Switch Off Air Pollution in Mongolian Cities), which after four years of implementation helped thousands of households in Mongolia toward warmer homes, cleaner air and reduced energy consumption, and FRESH in Morocco, which renovated pilot homes to better withstand extreme heat and brought partners together for study visits. The organisation also offers consultancy and expertise services — diagnostics, strategic studies and advice, support for project design and management, institutional and public-policy support, and training and capacity building — to companies, local and national authorities, development agencies, civil-society organisations and international organisations. Its expert team works worldwide, drawing on field teams in all its countries of intervention in Africa, Asia and Europe as well as a wider network of associated experts, former employees and trusted partners. GERES frames its mission as "climate solidarity" (la solidarité climatique en action), aiming to give everyone access to sustainable energy services by valuing local resources and promoting responsible energy consumption. It has partnered with private-sector actors such as the furniture retailer Maisons du Monde, which presents itself as committed alongside Geres on the path of energy transition. As lead agency for the Climate and Development Committee of Coordination SUD for the period 2013–2016, GERES worked with other NGOs on advocacy aimed at guiding national and international climate change policy.

GERES was founded on 14 September 1976 in Marseille, following the first oil crisis, at the initiative of teachers and researchers working with Georges Peri. It was originally named Groupement pour l'Exploitation Rationnelle de l'Energie Solaire — the Group for the Rational Use of Solar Energy — and its aim was to put researchers and professionals in touch in order to develop solar energy solutions. The organisation changed its name as its mission widened. In 1986 it became Groupe Energies Renouvelables (Renewable Energies Group); in 1994 it became Groupe Energies Renouvelables et Environnement (Renewable Energies and Environment Group); and in 2008 it adopted its current name, Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités (Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity), as it broadened its areas of intervention. In 2004 GERES launched CO2Solidaire, described as the first French carbon offsetting programme. As an organisation specialising in sustainable and renewable energies, climate change and environmental protection, GERES works for an energy transition, along with natural resource conservation and improved living conditions for local people, both in Europe and in the developing world. For the period 2013–2016 it served as lead agency for the Climate and Development Committee of Coordination SUD, working with other NGOs on advocacy aimed at guiding national and international climate change policy. GERES promotes renewable energy use and local economic development in four broad geographic areas: Europe and the Mediterranean, West Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. It is present in a dozen or so countries working alongside local development actors around five core themes: clean energy production; energy efficiency and energy saving; economic development; local policy and land use; and climate change. Its field work includes projects such as SOAP II in Mongolia, which after four years of implementation helped thousands of households toward warmer homes, cleaner air and reduced energy consumption, and FRESH in Morocco, which renovated eight pilot houses for vulnerable households in Béni Mellal and Tata to better withstand extreme heat. Alongside project implementation, GERES offers consultancy and expertise services to companies, local and national authorities, development agencies, civil-society organisations and international organisations, covering diagnostics, strategic studies and advice, support for project design and management, institutional and public-policy support, and training and capacity building.

• 2013

  Became lead agency for the Climate and Development Committee of Coordination SUD for the 2013–2016 period.

• 2008

  Adopted current name, Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités (Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity).

• 2004

  Launched CO2Solidaire, described as the first French carbon offsetting programme.

• 1994

  Renamed Groupe Energies Renouvelables et Environnement (Renewable Energies and Environment Group).

• 1986

  Renamed Groupe Energies Renouvelables (Renewable Energies Group).

• 1976

  GERES founded on 14 September in Marseille as Groupement pour l'Exploitation Rationnelle de l'Energie Solaire, following the first oil crisis.

An international development NGO positioning itself around "climate solidarity", combining field projects, technical expertise and policy advocacy in renewable energy and energy transition.

• CO2Solidaire

  Carbon offsetting programme launched in 2004, described as the first French carbon offsetting programme.

• SOAP II (Switch Off Air Pollution in Mongolian Cities)

  Four-year project in Mongolia that helped thousands of households toward warmer homes, cleaner air and reduced energy consumption.

• FRESH

  Morocco project that renovated eight pilot houses for vulnerable households in Béni Mellal and Tata to better withstand extreme heat.

• Geres Expertise et conseil stratégique

  Consultancy service offering diagnostics, strategic studies and advice, project design and management support, institutional and public-policy support, and training.

1. 1Geres - La solidarité climatique en action !geres.eu
2. 2Offres de services - Geresgeres.eu
3. 3Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarityen.wikipedia.org
4. 4Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidaritywikidata.org