Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong here on Wednesday urged the international community to build on the Kyoto Protocol and work out a practical and effective approach, after the first commitment period under Kyoto expires in 2012
"If we fail to address climate change, ecosystems and human societies could experience major disruption over the next 50 to 100 years, and quite possibly sooner," Lee warned in his address at the opening ceremony for the high-level segment of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali.
"Rich or poor, all countries will have to do their part for the environment. Collectively we share this problem and must solve it together," said Lee.
The developed countries are responsible for the bulk of current and historical greenhouse emissions. They will have to take the lead in cutting emissions. The developing countries, especially the emerging economies of Asia, are also becoming major emitters. Their populations are equally if not more vulnerable to climate change.
It is necessary to set overall targets to reduce greenhouse gas emission. And countries have to pursue pragmatic and cost-effective ways to this end, including exploiting technology to improve energy efficiency and reduce wastage. An evolving, creative response is also needed to exploit new technologies and adapt to new scientific discoveries.
"Dealing with global warming will be a long and difficult process. It will need political support from the populations of our countries, for we will face tough choices," said the Singaporean leader.
The Bali conference, the 13th Conference of the 192 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)and the third meeting of the 176 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, is being attended by more than 11,000 people, making it the largest U.N. climate change meeting ever held.
Source: Xinhua
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