Aware of the Asia Pacific region’s crucial role in the international community,

We, the participants of the Asia Pacific Leaders’ Conference on Climate Change (ASPAC/LCCC), composed of representatives from 133 countries¹, and convened in Manila, Philippines, from February 17-20, 1995, by virtue of the Phuket (Thailand) Declaration adopted by the Second East Asia and Pacific Parliamentarians’ Conference on Environment (EAPPCED II) in 1994, affirm our commitment to promote the objectives of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, notably:

“Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national, and where appropriate, regional programs containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, and measures to facilitate adequate adaptations to climate change.”

Further, considering the vulnerabilities of our region to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on agriculture, biological diversity, peoples and cultures, we are concerned that environmental measures may be used inappropriately to pressure the nations in our region into adopting unwarranted or unwarranted environmental policies.

We recognize our capability to take the initiative in implementing strategies for sustainable development in the face of climate change.

Thus saying, the Conference, with respect to climate change:

Reaffirms that sustainable development must be the guiding principle of all our development strategies;

Recognizes that the small island states, coastal, and other nations of the Asia Pacific region, including the many centers of economic, biological, and cultural viability and diversity, are extremely susceptible to climate change and sea level rise; and that these small island developing states should be given special status because of the imminent threat of climate change.

Supports the adoption in Berlin of the draft protocol of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), in particular, for developed countries in the region to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by the year 2005 and to adopt specific targets and timetables to limit or reduce other greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol;

Appreciates that local governments and communities have important and crucial roles to play in the mitigation of climate change, specially in decisions concerning power projects, waste management and land use;

Encourages local governments and communities to establish policies and programs to respond to climate change;

Asserts that developed countries are primarily responsible for the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHSs) in the atmosphere, and hence, these countries must take the lead in reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions, ensure information and technology transfer, and provide new and additional financial resources on the most favorable terms to assist developing countries in meeting their commitments under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC);

Accepts the role of developing countries to contribute, subject to their development needs, to the task of responding to climate change, including an assessment of energy and land use policies, which may be important sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, as well as the causes of destruction of carbon sinks and reservoirs;

Notes that the current level of commitments and actions of most developed countries under the Framework Convention are inadequate.

Encourages both the developed countries and developing countries in the region to undertake cooperative activities, including public-private partnership with regional and international scientific organizations on climate change, sea level rise, and coastal zone management, to research on renewable energy and environmentally sound technology options.

Seeks to develop a partnership utilizing both private and public sources of capital to increase the use of GHG benign technologies and calls for developed countries to implement a major change in energy research spending to reflect an enhanced commitment to renewable energy technology, demand-size management and energy efficiency.

Recommends that new and additional sources, and innovative funding mechanisms be tapped, to make available small amounts of credit on a mass scale at a nomimal interest rate and other favorable terms while simultaneously accessing diverse source of capital, in order to provide investment funding for energy efficient and renewable systems.

Encourages developed countries in the region to immediately remove certain agricultural subsidies in view of their negative impact on land use, vegetation and forest cover, and rural populations in developing countries.

Recommends that national government encourage local participation in the formulation of their National Climate Actions Plans and insure local authorities have appropriate powers and responsibilities;

Decides to undertake improved public education and creative environmental literary programs in the response to climate change by harnessing cultural traditions, the arts, and media resources involving all sectors of society, particularly indigenous peoples, women, the handicapped, youth, and children;

Commits to develop and implement a regional program to mitigate climate change and facilitate adequate adaptation thereto, including regional projects on scientific cooperation, standardization of environmental criteria, forestry and energy efficiency; and

Resolves to develop a Regional Climate Action Plan based on this Declaration, and submit this Declaration and the Action Plan to the First Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Berlin on March 28-April 7, 1995.