APEC draft cautious on emission cut target
14 Nov 2009
Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meet in Singapore pledged to substantially slash greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but came short of a targeted 50 per cent cut.
The initial APEC leader's draft statement said "global emissions will need to be reduced to 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050".
However, today's draft says: "We believe that global emissions will need to peak over the next few years, and be substantially reduced by 2050, recognising that the timeframe for peaking will be longer in developing economies".
The weekend meeting is the last majot gathering of world leaders before the crucial world climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
Although the APEC talks are not part of the UN climate negotiations, the APEC meet was seen crucial because the group is responsible for about 60 per cent of mankind's greenhouse gas pollution.
"The clock is ticking to Copenhagen," Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd told an APEC business meeting. "But when you have gathered in Singapore economies which represent a large part of any final negotiated outcome for Copenhagen this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss."
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