International lawmakers highlight development while addressing climate change

Lawmakers and experts from eight Asia-Pacific and European countries stressed at a forum here Thursday that the climate change is both an environmental issue and a development issue.

"The climate change is not only an environmental issue, but also, and more importantly, a development issue," said a statement, entitled the Consensus on Legislative Actions to Promote New, Renewable Energy Development, issued at the two-day forum which closed here Thursday.

Lawmakers from China, Australia, Italy, Denmark, Germany, British, Japan and Republic of Korea and experts from international organizations agreed that the priority need of developing countries to grow their economy and eradicate poverty must be ensured while addressing climate change, according to the statement.

They also agreed that the lawmakers should work to ensure their governments keep to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol and adhere to the mandate of Bali Roadmap, the statement said.

The governments should also stick to "the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities," it said.

The governments should work for a positive outcome in the coming Copenhagen Conference, it said.

Lawmakers should undertake legislative work and supervise their governments in adopting "earnest" measures to tackle the consequences of climate change, the statement said.

Developed countries should notably reduce greenhouse gas emission and provide financial and technical support to developing countries in the fields such as promoting new and renewable energy, it said.

The statement called on developing countries to make efforts to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emission "in accordance with their national circumstances" while they develop economy, reduce poverty and improve people's lives.

The foreign delegates spoke highly of the efforts China's legislators have made in recent years.

Mike Symon, Federal Labor member for Deakin of Australia, told Xinhua,"Some of the policies that China adopted even go ahead of my country."

"Through the implementation of the 'Grain for Green policy', China enables the national forest cover to grow. It sets a very good example for the rest of the world," said Antonio D'Ali, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Resources and Land Use of Italy.

Related terms: asia, australia, china, conference, denmark, economy, environment, federal, germany, grain, italy, korea, labor, poverty, renewable energy