Apec Leaders Issue Climate Change Call

Group aims to reduce energy intensity by at least 25 pct by 2030

SYDNEY: Asia Pacific leaders signed a climate change agreement yesterday that calls for long-term action to curb greenhouse gases, setting “aspirational” goals but no firm commitments.

Unveiling the statement at a Sydney summit, Australian Prime Minister John Howard called it “a very important milestone towards a sensible international agreement” bringing in both rich and poor nations.

It followed intense wrangling here between developed and emerging nations over the shape of a treaty to replace the landmark Kyoto Protocol on curbing gas emissions, blamed for warming the Earth’s atmosphere.

Their statement notably includes an aim of reducing energy intensity by at least 25 per cent by the year 2030.

Howard had made cllimate change a cornerstone of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit here, which has drawn the leaders of 21 Pacific rim economies including China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

He said they had agreed on “the need for a long-term aspirational, global emissions reduction goal.”

They were also agreed on “the need for all nations, no matter what their stage of development, to contribute according to their own circumstances to reducing greenhouse gases.”

That was a nod to emerging nations which have argued that any curbs on key industries must be balanced with the need to ensure economic growth to raise living standards and lift millions of people out of poverty.

The agreement, which also seeks to increase forest cover right across the Apec region, also emphasises the primacy of the United Nations in leading the fight against global warming. – AFP

Source: TheSundayPost (09-09-2007)