ASEAN ministers call for agreement on climate change in Cancun meet

S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 13 Oct 10;

SINGAPORE : ASEAN environment ministers have reiterated the importance of reaching agreement on climate change issues at the meeting in Cancun, Mexico in November-December this year.

In a joint statement after their meeting in the Bruneian capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, the 10 ASEAN ministers expressed concern over the slow pace of negotiations. They said many key issues remain unresolved at this late stage.

They stressed that the next Summit should strive for a legally binding agreement, particularly to limit the increase in average global temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level.

They also called on developed countries to continue taking the lead by making more ambitious commitments.

The ministers added that these countries can also set out specific and binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support developing countries with adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources.

On tackling the challenge of transboundary haze, the ministers noted that for the southern ASEAN region, the inter-monsoon season bringing shower activities will help to subdue hot-spot activities in October and November.

However, periods of dry conditions may occur, and hence the ASEAN members have pledged to remain vigilant, and continuously monitor and implement haze preventive activities.

The ministers also endorsed developing a Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS) for the ASEAN region as a tool to undertake monitoring and preventive actions to address the outbreak of fires.

The ASEAN ministers will meet their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea at the 9th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting on Thursday.

They will exchange views on global environmental issues and discuss topics such as biodiversity, climate change, environmental education, water resources management, and hazardous waste management.

On Friday, they will also meet their counterparts from Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, and South Korea at the 2nd East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting.

- CNA/al