But this will require reliable and consistent economic incentives from many different financing sources, including carbon credits and economic development assistance.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Seeing the carbon for the trees

Another rapidly growing country with a decentralized government, Brazil has financed nearly every renewable energy project through the National Social Economic Development Bank (BNDES) with low-cost and long-term debt financing.

FORBES: Expensive Loans Dim The Prospects For Renewable Energy In India

Among the issues the women will be discussing at the three-day summit are ways to bridge the technology gap, including use of the internet in business development, strategies to cope with the economic impact of Aids and war, especially in Africa, financing women's enterprises and understanding trade agreements as globalisation continues to have an adverse impact on developing societies.

BBC: Nelson Mandela at the conference