APEC To Tackle Climate Change At Sydney Meeting, Forum Told
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SYDNEY - Climate change will be at the top of the agenda at the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Sydney in September, a forum heard Tuesday.
David Spencer, Deputy Secretary and Ambassador to APEC, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said climate change was “clearly an issue on almost every APEC leader’s mind,” with member economies such as China, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand releasing major statements on climate change during recent months.
Speaking at the University of Sydney’s international forum “APEC’s economic challenges: breaking down the barriers for growth and integration,” Mr Spencer said that the Economic Leaders’ Meeting will discuss post-Kyoto Protocol cooperation in climate change, seeking to develop a consensus on a regional position with regards to post-Kyoto talks.
The forum also heard from Brendan Pearson, Assistant Secretary, Environment Branch, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who said APEC, “a rare blend of developed and developing countries”, should build support for a new global framework which is environmentally effective, encourages sustainable development and takes into account energy security needs.
APEC economies will be “a big part of the problem of a big part of the solution” on climate change, said Mr Pearson, noting that the centre of economic gravity has shifted towards the region. Indeed, the forum heard earlier that APEC represents 56 per cent of global gross domestic product and 49 per cent of world trade.
This new global approach, according to Mr Pearson, should include all major emitters, recognise different national circumstances and be flexible enough to accommodate a range of policy approaches.
Going forward, he said that the next steps are to build on the outcome of the recent G8 meeting as well as the US initiative, build momentum at APEC for action by emitters, including developing nations, and launch negotiations on a new global framework at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Bali in December.
Mr Pearson told the forum that APEC makes up for 60 per cent of world energy demand and includes the world’s four biggest energy consumers (US, China, Japan and South Korea). Energy demand across APEC is forecast to double by 2030, with member economies projected to pump US$6-7.6 trillion into energy infrastructure by this date.
APEC’s 21 member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
Filed by Maria Robson under Multilateral Trade, The Environment, Climate Change