The APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) economic leaders
yesterday solemnly pledged in a declaration to commit themselves
"to ensuring the energy needs of the economies of the region while
addressing the issues of environmental quality and contributing to
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."
Going beyond the rhetoric, "Sydney APEC Leaders' Declaration on
Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development" outlined
specific targets that the economies have vowed to achieve in the
region as a joint effort to slow down the climate change and
mitigate its effects.
These include reducing energy intensity by at least 25 percent
by 2030; increasing forest cover by at least 20 million hectares by
2020 so as to store about 1.4 billion tons of carbon; and
establishing two networks to enhance cooperation in clean and
renewable energy research and forestry management and
rehabilitation.
Although it will take time to see the promises turned into
concrete actions and achieve desired results, the declaration at
least shows that the region's economic leaders realize how
imperative it is to join hands and tackle the issues of energy
security, environmental degradation and climate change
together.
Those are the three hot issues of international concern ever
since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its
first installment of the report on climate change in February,
which for the first time confirmed scientifically that human
activities are the main culprit in causing global warming and the
dramatic fluctuations in the weather.
Since then, most corners of the earth have sustained different
types of natural disasters in severity relatively higher than ever
before, whether it is flood, drought, typhoon or hurricane.
There has also been a lot of finger-pointing, especially in the
media. But yesterday's declaration, while emphasizing the respect
for different domestic circumstances and capacities and
flexibility, recognizes that the APEC region has a major stake in
global responses to the challenges of climate change, energy
security and clean development.
It is encouraging to see the economies have committed to working
through bilateral, regional and global partnerships and exploring
innovative forms of international cooperation.
As President Hu Jintao said on Saturday, helping others is
helping oneself and only cooperation can bring about win-win
progress.
(China Daily September 10, 2007)
