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APEC Leaders, Sydney September 2007.Credit: Kremlin.ru

By Rich Bowden:

Asia Pacific leaders gathering in Singapore for this weekend’s APEC summit must commit to ambitious climate targets if they are to avoid economic, social and environmental catastrophe in the region, according to environment group WWF.

The WWF statement called on Governments to put the issue of climate change ahead of pressing financial concerns.

“Solving problems of protectionism, trade zones, banks and exchange rates is very important, but what is all of this worth if the world slips into chaos because of devastating climate change?” said Kim Carstensen, Leader of the WWF Global Climate Initiative.

“APEC leaders must open their eyes and look into the real threats and challenges of this world and their region. We cannot talk about sustainable growth without solving the most intractable problem the planet is facing.”

Global media reports have begun downplaying meaningful climate targets being achieved at key climate talks in Copenhagen next month, and WWF says Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders must use the opportunity to take the necessary preliminary steps to kick start a lasting agreement to replace the expired Kyoto Protocol.

“If APEC countries would tackle the climate crisis with the same rigor they showed in protecting their economies from the financial meltdown, the world wouldn’t have to worry about a lack of political will or insufficient levels of ambition in the UN climate talks”, said Carstensen.

“We urge APEC leaders to bring economic recovery and climate recovery in sync, so that money spent on keeping growth levels high also helps bringing emission levels down.”

Chinese Coal Plant. Credit: Tobixen

World’s Biggest Challenges

Meanwhile a meeting of the APEC countries’ foreign and trade ministers has acknowledged the threat posed to the region by climate change. In a statement released at a preliminary round of talks, the ministers said in a statement that man-made climate change “is one of the biggest challenges facing the world.”

WWF released a report on the eve of the APEC summit listing the effects of climate change on 11 major Asian cities. The study found Dhaka to be the most vulnerable to climate threats, followed by Jakarta, Manila, Kolkata and Phnom Penh.

The APEC discussions will draw leaders from 21 Pacific Rim nations including the US, China and Australia to discuss economic growth and prosperity for the region. The Singapore round of the talks will be held over the weekend.

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