The first half of this year saw the warmest months ever recorded on earth. More dramatic change for the next century are predicted, namely more drought, flooding, and probably are storms. Although many uncertainties exist in current climate studies, it is undeniable that increase in human produced greenhouse gases is one of the important causes of current climate change.

Emission reduction of greenhouse gases seem to he the most pragmatic action we can take to prevent dramatic climate change. Last December in Kyoto, Japan, representatives from 159 nations reached a tentative agreement on mandatory reduction greenhouse gases emission. The timetable and target of greenhouse gases emission were outlined for Annex-I parties. Unresolved issues such as rules for emissions trading and the role of developing countries in global emission reduction certainly will be raised in COP4 meeting in Buenos Aires this November.

AANEA members as well as most other non-governmental environmental organizations were disappointed with such agreement for it's far short of our expectation, that is 20% reduction by 2005 the least. However, we recognize the need for a global mandatory treaty for emission reduction. We will keep working on stronger reduction in the near future.

Some introduced the idea of "flexibility mechanisms" in the name of cost-effectiveness. However, these may become big loopholes if the schemes are not carefully designed. Any responsible nation should emphasize its reduction locally and limit its emission trade to minimum. Otherwise on cheat will lead to another, and eventually the whole framework will collapse.

Most current CO2 in the air was emitted by industrialized nations, but emission by developing countries has increased dramatically over the past two decades. Rich countries usually are better prepared when disaster occurs, while poor nations suffer the most even though they contribute less to the problem. However, for their own protection, developing nations should be encouraged to participate in greenhouse gases emission reduction.

For the well being of this and future generations, we, AANEA members, call upon all governments to take the following actions:

1. Take sincere and practical actions to reduce the greenhouse emissions and reduce locally;
2. Work beyond the target set by Kyoto Protocol;
3. Limit the percentage of reduction by "flexibility mechanisms" to minimum;
4. Create mechanisms to encourage participation of developing nations.

1. develop programs to promote and encourage energy saving;
2. Invest on developing renewable energy and low carbon energy use;
3. Set up policy to limit the growth of energy-intensive industry;
4. No unclear energy expansion in the name of reducing greenhouse gases emissions;
5. More research on the sciences, social impacts, and economic impacts of climate change;
6. Broad bases for decision making through open dialogs with general public and NGOs;
7. Ensure free access to all government information by all citizens.

AANEA Steering Committee Member Organization

KOREA : CCEJ (Citizens Coalition for Economic Justice)
CHINA : Friend of Nature
RUSSIA : Geographical Society
MONGOLIA : MACNE (Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment)
TAIWAN : TEPU (Taiwan Environmental Protection Union)
HONGKONG : CA (The Conservancy Association)
JAPAN : CASA (Citizens' Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the Earth)
             Peoples' Forum 2001/Global Warming Research Group