PM for global mechanism to develop environment-friendly techs

Prakash Chawla
Cha-Am Hua Hin, Oct 25 (PTI) Prime Minister of India
Manmohan Singh on Sunday said India was committed to the
success of international efforts to combat climate change and
sought a global mechanism to develop environment-friendly
technologies and ensuring their availability to developing
nations at an affordable cost.
Addressing the fourth East Asian Summit (EAS) here,
Singh noted that the issue of climate change is "a major
challenge" facing the world, but it is particularly so for the
developing and fast growing economies in Asia.
"The challenge before us is to find a global mechanism
which, while safeguarding the incentives for innovation and
development of environment-friendly technologies in the
private sector, also simultaneously ensures the availability
of such technology to developing countries at an affordable
cost," the Prime Minister said.
Later, addressing a press conference, Singh said he
reiterated at the Summit "India's commitment to the success of
international efforts to combat climate change.
"...the urgent need to collaborate in the research and
development of renewable energy technologies, the need for
Asia to focus on food security and disaster management, all of
which are key to finding a path to sustainable development."
At the Summit, the Prime Minister said the East Asian
Summit process should come up with a workable model of
sustainable development. Financing and technology transfers
are its key elements.

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Ahead of the key climate change meet in Copenhagen in
December, India has made it clear that it will not compromise
on development in the fight against global warming and said
all developing nations must do their bit to keep their
emissions footprint within "sustainable and equitable" levels.
At the EAS meet on Sunday, the Prime Minister also
pointed out that many Asian countries face the spectre of
terrorism and said that there are growing threats from
non-traditional sources, such as piracy, transnational groups
and extremist ideologies.
"I agree with the President of Indonesia (Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, who expressed similar views). This will
increasingly require a concerted and cooperative response in
the coming period," he said.
At the press conference, the Prime Minister also said
the summit also agreed that the issues of terrorism and non-
traditional threats to security have to addressed with resolve
and firmness.
The Prime Minister also said the countries will have
to pay greater attention to issues of social exclusion and
regional imbalances in development.
"The fight against pandemics and collaboration in
disaster management are other areas which will need our
attention," he told the Summit.
The East Asia Summit holds great potential, he said,
adding that "if we pool our collective wisdom and resources,
there is little doubt that the EAS will emerge as an oasis of
peace, stability and prosperity in a fast changing world." PTI
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