By KUNA
Riyadh : On energy for Environment, The Riyadh Declaration noted that the process of production and consumption of energy resources poses different local, regional and global environmental challenges. It said that Human ingenuity and technological development have long played pivotal roles in addressing such challenges and providing the world with clean, affordable and competitive petroleum resources for global prosperity.
Producers of petroleum are called upon to continue their central role in providing the world with its present and future energy needs, while addressing, along with the international community, global environmental concerns associated with their use.
OPEC said it shared the international community’s concern that change is a long-term challenge, and recognize the interrelationships between addressing such concerns on the one hand, and ensuing secure and stable petroleum supplies to support global economic growth and development on the other.
It said, while addressing global environmental concerns, such as climate change, it is important to emphasize the roles of governments, as well as those of the innovation, markets and technological development, in any local and global undertaking.
In the run-up to the 13th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Third Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, in OPEC member Indonesia-and beyond- “we continue to collaborate with the international community in addressing the issues and challenges in a comprehensive, equitable and effective manner,” the Riyadh Declaration said.
In this respect, OPEC voiced resolve to continue member countries’ response to global environmental challenges and support international efforts to address these issues in the most cost-effective manner.
OPEC also voiced resolve to promote collaboration in research and development in the petroleum field among OPEC science and technology centres, as well as collaboration with other international centres and the industry, with the objective of increasing petroleum resource base, producing it more efficiently and continue introducing cleaner fuels.
OPEC acknowledged that forests play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, as sinks, sources and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.
In this regard, OPEC voiced commitment to the promotion of the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests, noting that global cooperation is needed to intensify collective international efforts in this field.
OPEC reaffirmed the core principle of common bud differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in addressing climate change policies and measures, including the implementation of UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.
OPEC pledged to ensure that all policies and measures developed to address climate change concerns are both balances and comprehensive, taking into account their impact on developing countries, including countries heavily dependent on the production and export of fossil fuels.
OPEC emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to climate change that addresses all contributing greenhouse gases, their sources, sectors and sinks, and benefits from the relevant Kyoto Protocol mechanisms.
OPEC finally stressed the importance of cleaner and more efficient petroleum technologies for the protection of the local, regional and global environment, and the importance of expediting the development of technologies that address climate change, such as carbon capture and storage.