UN ESCAP Hosts Climate Change Workshop

United Nations Under Secretary-General warns climate change intensifying in Asia and Pacific

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, today stressed the need for co-operation between the public and private sectors as the region's Pacific Island States and low-lying coastal areas face a growing threat from the effects of global warming.

"The negative impacts of climate change are continuing to intensify in Asia and the Pacific," Mr. Kim told delegates during his keynote address. "Sea-level rise is threatening the very existence of some of the Pacific Island States and people living in low-lying coastal areas."

Mr. Kim made the remarks during a keynote speech to delegates from regional governments, private industry, and the World Bank who were attending the three-day Asia-Pacific Workshop on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and National Strategy Studies on Climate Change.

The meeting brings together energy and conservation experts from both the public and private sectors who will discuss the Kyoto Protocol and its implementation in the Asia-Pacific region. The workshop focused on "emission trading" between developed and developing countries, and ways for private industry to capitalize on CDM.

"Many developing countries in the region have already taken steps" to reduce emissions and implement cleaner air policies, Mr. Kim said. But for more to be done, developing countries needed "substantial assistance from developed countries that are largely responsible for the predicament of climate change and the potential impacts of global warming."

The Workshop, which is being attended by over 100 participants from 20 countries, is being held back to back with the Asia-Pacific Workshop on the Prototype Carbon Fund which begins tomorrow.

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