An energy declaration signed by 16 Asia-Pacific heads of state marks an important step towards tackling climate change and the region's massive pollution problems, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
She was among leaders gathered in the Philippines City of Cebu who yesterday signed the declaration, which sets outa range of measures to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Helen Clark said she believed the document was a "very good" first step for a region whose emerging oil-dependent economies were expanding at a staggering rate.
"I think it is a very important statement and the fact that we've got right up there in it that this contributes to global climate change abatement is very important."
In 2002 the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) emitted a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, but that was set to treble by 2030 and when the mega-economies of China and India were added to the equation, the scenario was "horrific", she said.
"Basically this declaration is saying this is not a sustainable situation."
Several of the climate-change initiatives were successfully inserted by New Zealand officials.
The measures include:
* Promoting and sharing cleaner technologies including for the use of coal;
* encouraging the use of biofuels, including moves towards a regional standard;
* creating better incentives for renewable energy;
* encouraging energy efficiency and conservation including setting national voluntary targets;
* exploring greater fuel stockpiling.
Helen Clark said although the measures were general several projects would flow out of them keeping the issue of climate change on countries' agendas.
Although there was a reluctance among some countries to tackle climate change they were being forced to look at the issue due to the high price of oil and the increasing insecurity of supply.
Problems in the heavily oil dependent area had the potential to slow down the region's economic growth and with it the welfare of its residents.
