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LUSAKA, Sept. 15 -- Time is crucial for taking effective international actions towards climate change, leaders attending a high level meeting of the eastern and southern Africa-Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) region and the European Commission (EC) said on Tuesday. In their "Lusaka Declaration" released here, participants urged quick action toward climate change and food and energy crises in the region. Ahead of the global climate change talks in Copenhagen in December, the call was made by ministers of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC),Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD)and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and the high officials from European Commission, who attended the meeting, "We reaffirm that climate change is a critical issue globally, and that the time is crucial for taking effective international actions recognizing that mitigation and successful adaptation to the impacts of climate change are equally important," they said in the declaration. The declaration also notes with deep concern that as a result of the global economic and financial crisis, ESA-IO countries are affected through lower export earnings, lower foreign direct and portfolio investment, lower aid, and lower remittances. "We recognize the adverse effects of the food and energy crises on the social and economic development of the countries of the Region," said the declaration. |
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