Asia agrees on “Green Growth” framework

Talking is a start. A consortium of Asian nations have agreed to explore setting up an institutional framework for environmental best practices and standards in Asia in what has been dubbed the “Manila Declaration”. The next step is action and we’ll have to wait and see how this collaborative between nations pans out.

green team

Asia agrees on “Green Growth” framework
www.ecoseed.com
by Oliver Bayani

As preparation for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, Asian countries on Sept. 11 (Manila time) issued a declaration that seeks to encourage countries to establish the appropriate institutional framework towards the shift to resource-efficient and low-carbon industries.

Called the “Manila Declaration,” the document was signed by minister-level officials from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Senior officials from India, Iran, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan also signed.

The Manila Declaration, called the first unified sustainable development initiative of its kind, includes a “Framework of Action” that calls for sharing of best practices, establishment of an international network of universities and research centers, and a communications strategy to enhance awareness about performance measurement tools concerning the “greening” of industries.

It also calls for a network of green industries by setting up energy management standards among Asian countries.

Other than focusing on regional solutions to have more sustainable industry practices, the declaration also seeks for international collaboration in adopting “Green Growth.”

“Going green is not impossible. It is doable if we are able to develop cost-effective implementation strategies, mobilize resources and ensure their efficient allocation, create a strong incentive system and eliminate market distortions, and undertake public awareness [campaigns],” said Jose L. Atienza, Environment secretary of the Philippines, where the declaration was issued following a three-day International Conference on Green Industry in Asia (ICGIA) held in Manila.

The UN Climate Change Conference in December expects 192 UN member states to deliberate on a new multilateral climate agreement which is hoped to become the benchmark for environmental management beyond 2012, especially for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.