SYDNEY, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- A study released here today has proposed what it says is "a new strategy for unified global action" to tackle climate change, an issue over which leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) remain divided.
The study, released by the United States-based non-governmental organisation, World Growth, proposes a "multi-track" process that allows countries to develop "more customised strategies to reduce emissions".
World Growth chairman Alan Oxley, who authored the study, said that the process could bring the United States, China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and other countries of the region "closer together on a consensus" towards how to tackle climate change ahead of the United Nations global talks later this year in Bali, Indonesia.
"The Apec region is the ideal forum for proposing a new approach," said Oxley.
Among others, the study's "multi-track" strategy allows for each nation to develop a strategy to tackle climate change that best suits it.
The report claims that this would give nations more flexibility to reach emission reductions through a variety of strategies, including Kyoto-styled mandatory cuts, adopting new technologies and improving energy consumption.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard wants this year's Apec to put climate change on top of the agenda and is pushing for a climate change strategy, triggering a debate whether Apec is the right forum to discuss the issue.
Apec groups Australia, Canada, China, Chile, Hong Kong, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.
-- BERNAMA
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