Resolution on Environment and Climate Change

20th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum
8-12 January 2012

Resolution on Environment and Climate Change

APPF20/RES/04

(Co-Sponsored by Chile, Japan, Korea and Mexico)

THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM:

Recognizing that climate change and environmental problems are global and among the most severe challenges for all humankind;

Recalling resolutions related to these problems which were adopted in the past annual meetings of the APPF, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) principle of common but differentiated responsibility, and the resolutions adopted
at the 114th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly (Nairobi, 2006) and at the 120th IPU Assembly (Addis Ababa, 2009) on the role of parliaments in environmental management and in combating global degradation of the environment, and climate change, sustainable
development and renewable energies;

Welcoming the endeavors of the international community through such conferences as the G20 Seoul Speakers’ Consultation 2011, G8 Deauville Summit, the 10th meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, (CBD-COP10), the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP5), the 10th Meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, Leaders’ Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, and the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP17) and the 7th Conference of the Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (UNFCCC-CMP7) held in Durban;

Emphasizing the important role of the Cancun Agreements which were adopted at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) and include core elements in a balanced manner,

Noting our Asia-Pacific countries’ determination to make efforts for the resolution of these serious and urgent problems which the international community should tackle.

RESOLVES TO:

Welcome the outcome of COP17 which clarifies the pathway to a legal framework under the UNFCCC and recognizes that the UNFCCC is the consensus and legal basis for the international community’s efforts in tackling climate change;
Call on the member countries to:
(a) welcome the outcome of COP17 in which Parties agreed on the basic design of the Green Climate Fund and the guidelines of MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) and continue to strengthen the cooperation for the further operationalization of the Cancun Agreements agreed at COP16;(b) work towards the establishment of the NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) Registry, a mechanism where developing countries can gain international recognition for their voluntary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be provided with necessary financial and technological support;(c) recognize the importance of financial and technological support for adaptation of developing countries, in particular African countries, least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states, which are most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of
climate change, and to work together towards strengthening the ability of those developing countries to adapt to climate change, including disaster risk reduction;(d) promote the cooperation among developed anddeveloping countries to achieve lowcarbon growth globally as a way to effectively address the issue of climate change by fully mobilizing technology, markets and finance through public-private cooperation as
the effective action toward climate change;

(e) support the global expansion of renewables (wind power, biomass and biogas, photovoltaics and solar energy, hydroelectricity and geothermal energy) as a major source of energy supply since renewables are the best means of promoting low-carbon power generation, helping to cut CO2 emissions, contributing to energy self-sufficiency and security of supply, reducing dependence on fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) and mineral resources (uranium), and helping to boost regional economies and safeguard jobs through reliance on local energy sources;

(f) promote steady implementation of the outcomes of CBD-COP10 and COP-MOP5 including the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (“the Aichi Targets”), the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, and the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress.