Nations pledge CO2 cuts

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our or .

| Sourced From |

TOKYO — Transport ministers wrapped up a three-day conference vowing to cut carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming from aviation and shipping as well as road traffic.

“We share a long-term global vision of realizing low-carbon and low-pollution transport systems, and we commit ourselves to working effectively and collaboratively with international organizations and individual countries in order to fulfill this vision,” stated a joint declaration adopted at the meeting that ended today.

The declaration calls for increased international cooperation and technical assistance to developing nations and stresses the need for both developed and developing countries to take “meaningful actions” to cut CO2 emissions in accordance with their respective capabilities.

The transport sector, led by road traffic, accounts for 23 percent of global CO2 emissions.

The conference brought together 21 countries from the G8 and Asean blocs, and nine international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.

China did not attend, citing differences between developed and developing countries over the role the latter should play in CO2 emission reductions.

The declaration calls on the ICAO and the IMO to develop packages of effective measures for reducing CO2 emissions from international aviation and shipping by the end of 2009.

It also encourages the IMO to work toward finalizing this year the Energy Efficiency Design Index for new ships so that they are designed and built for maximum energy efficiency, and an Energy Efficiency Management Plan comprising an Operational Index and guidance on best practices for fuel-efficient operation of ships.

It also emphasizes, among other features, the need to promote the introduction by the ICAO member countries of improved navigation systems to shorten flight routes.