Having finalised a regional convention on environment, leaders from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations are now working towards formulating a joint position on tackling global warming that could be voiced effectively at the Cancun climate talks in December.
The desire to have a common SAARC position at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP) in Cancun, Mexico, was reflected in speeches of several leaders at the summit of the eight-nation grouping that began here on Wednesday.
“While we have been deliberating on environment as a priority issue for a number of years, it will be a sad commentary on SAARC if we cannot present a well negotiated unified position at COP-16,” Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Thinley said in his address to the summit.
He also offered to host a meeting of the inter-governmental group on the issue.
Leaders from India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal have finalised a regional convention on environment.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced ‘India Endowment for Climate Change in South Asia’ to help member states meet their urgent adaptation and capacity building needs.
Dr. Singh also proposed setting up of climate innovation centres in South Asia to develop sustainable energy technologies based on indigenous resource endowments.
The Prime Minister offered services of India’s Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem to the SAARC member states saying that the initiative could serve as a nucleus for regional cooperation in this vital area.
He also lauded Bhutan’s efforts in combining development with conservation of the environment.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pitched for a unified approach to climate change.
“There is now need to lock in the key global players in COP-16 at Mexico later this year for concrete commitments covering greenhouse gas emission cuts and guaranteeing fund and technology,” Ms. Hasina said.
Ms. Hasina also called for SAARC to establish a Himalayan Council modelled on the Arctic Council for assisting the affected countries in the region.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the South Asian voice on this issue guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must be strongly heard in all international fora.
“Those in the developed world who have historically contributed to the climate change must now bear the lion share of the burden to mitigate this phenomenon,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said: “we must also evaluate and take requisite steps to preserve the region’s eco-system and precious water resources.”
He also called for a Joint SAARC Study on Himalayan Glaciers to be commissioned.
On Tuesday, the SAARC Council of Ministers had agreed to seek observer status at the Cancun climate talks in December to better articulate the concerns of the region which is vulnerable to global warming.
