EU opens development days with focus on climate change

www.chinaview.cn   2007-11-08 00:42:58

BRUSSELS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Union opened its second development days on Wednesday, with the impact of climate change on developing countries on top of the agenda.

"This year's forum aims to focus on climate change issues and how to respond to the needs of already vulnerable countries hardest hit by the impacts of climate change," the European Commission said in a press release here.

The three-day event, to be held in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, will draw around 1,000 decision-makers and stakeholders on development issues, who were scheduled to address the linkage between climate change, poverty and migration and examine how developing nations can best adapt.

"Climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation. Developed countries have a special responsibility to take the lead in cutting emissions and pushing a comprehensive, global agreement on future climate action, in the U.N. framework," commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said.

Barroso said the EU is determined to help developing countries to face the impact of climate change on the environment and on human and social development.

In addition to other high-ranking officials, the EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel would be present throughout the event.

"We are on track with scaling up development assistance, we are making it more effective together with the member states and we strive to ensure other EU policies like trade and environment more coherent with development goals," Michel said.

The EU is aiming to take the lead in the fight against global warming by adopting an ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gas emission for 2020 earlier this year.

In September, the European Commission proposed a Global Alliance specific to climate change, in order to encourage adaptation measures, reduce emissions from deforestation, take advantage of the global carbon market and help developing countries be better prepared for natural disasters.

Last week, the EU launched the International Carbon Action Partnership, an initiative to develop a global carbon market.

Climate change is "the biggest single challenge which we need to tackle together with our partners in developing countries," Michel said.

Editor: Yan Liang

Read more... Sphere: Related Content