Minister of the Environment, Jan-Erik Enestam: ASEM seeks synergies between energy security and climate issues
11 Sep 2006, 17:52 en
"The ASEM 6 Declaration on Climate Change that was approved today by the leaders of nearly 40 Asian and European countries is important in many respects", said Minister of the Environment Jan-Erik Enestam when commenting on the ASEM 6 meeting results at the International Energy Audit Conference, which started today in Lahti.
Enestam welcomes the fact that the ASEM climate declaration seeks to find synergies between energy policy goals and actions on addressing climate change, reducing air pollution and improving the global environment, while also contributing to sustainable development.
"We also need concrete tools and actions to better exploit these synergies. This is exactly where your theme of energy auditing, energy efficiency and renewables comes in, because you offer practical means for stimulating investment in clean energy and development," said Enestam in his welcoming address to the Energy Audit06 Conference.
"I believe this declaration can have a far-reaching effect on numerous climate change ac-tions in the future. The leaders are committed to cooperating further to advance the constructive dialogue initiated in Montreal last year. This is a healthy and strong foundation for the meeting of the parties to the UN Climate Convention in Nairobi in November," stresses Enestam.
Enestam reminded the conference participants that the just closed ASEM meeting, while highly important, was one event among many other summits during the Finnish EU Presidency where climate issues are high on the agenda. "Throughout all these meetings, it will be important to ensure consistency between energy and climate issues, in order to move to a low-carbon future," emphasizes Enestam.
He will discuss the same issues as covered in the ASEM climate declaration on 14-15 September in Switzerland, where a preparatory meeting for the Nairobi Climate Conference will take place.
For more information:Christian Sjöstrand, Political Adviser to the Finnish Minister of the Environment: tel. +358 50 599 7876
