President Bush, 20 national leaders gather in Sydney to discuss climate change, security

President Bush and leaders of 20 Asia-Pacific nations are gathering in Sydney to discuss, among other regional topics, response to climate change. APEC leaders are expected to call for major nations to make “measurable and verifiable contributions to meeting shared global goals,” according to a draft declaration.

The US is hosting an Emissions Summit of 15 major polluter nations on September 27-28 in Washington, while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has convened an event “Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Climate Change” in New York on September 24.

The spate of international meetings comes as the world struggles to balance trade, energy, agriculture and security policy. With oil prices reaching $73 per barrel, proven reserve discoveries being far outstripped by consumption, and evidence of climate change mounting, global leaders realize that a synchronization of international policy is critical to progress on security as well as climate chance issues. Key to the international framework is drafting future accords that include the US, China, India and Australia as signatories and included in the framework of an accord.

Indian greenhouse gas emissions increased 55% between 1990 and 2004. China’s increased 47% and the Netherlands environmental assessment authority recently that China had passed the US in emissions.

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