APEC leaders at their annual meeting are to announce a regional goal of a reduction in energy intensity by at least 25 percent by 2030 from the 2005 level in support to United Nations global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will also announce an APEC-wide regional goal of increasing forest cover in the region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020, according to a draft declaration on climate change, energy security and clean development, obtained by Xinhua.
An Asia-Pacific network for energy technology will be established to strengthen collaboration on energy research in the region.
Another regional network for sustainable forest management and rehabilitation will be set up to enhance capacity building and strengthen information sharing in the forestry sector.
Climate change and energy security are the top agenda at this year's APEC meetings.
Opening the first retreat of the leaders meeting on Saturday, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the leaders will go over the draft declaration.
He said earlier that he was confident the leaders will approve the declaration at their two-day meeting.
After discussions at the experts and ministerial meetings, the APEC member economies have reached consensus on the issue. They agreed to commit to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and take actions on the basis of the principle of the Convention.
"The future international climate change arrangement needs to reflect differences in economic and social conditions among economies and be consistent with our common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities," said the draft.
To ensure a comprehensive global effort, APEC will have a flexible arrangement that recognizes diverse approaches.
Founded in 1989, APEC has become a major regional forum acting as the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
It has 21 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article