Draft Resolution sponsored by Chile

THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

Considering  the critical need for reliable and affordable energy sources and the key role they play in ensuring economic growth and stable development in the region;

Taking into account the enormous future energy demand and the rising consumption of energy, it is vitally important that we not only increase the supply of energy, but that we also ensure environmental sustainability and social development;

Affirming that environmental protection and social development require the adoption of ecologically friendly technologies as a means of obtaining “clean” and efficient energy;

Considering that, as a means of mitigating poverty, ensuring a reliable supply of affordable energy to the populace has become an integral part of energy security;

Given the fact that today there is clear conflict between agricultural production and biofuels production, in other words between food security and energy security, for the use of land and irrigation water;

Understanding that energy security includes the promotion of sustainable energy and the efficient use of energy, especially in construction and transportation;

Keeping in mind that, according to the International Panel for Climate Change, the use of fossil fuels is the most significant factor contributing to the generation of greenhouse gases, and, furthermore, that this phenomenon has been characterized as the greatest challenge facing humanity;

Convinced that, in order to avoid irreversible damage to human beings, to the environment, and to future generations, the so-called Principle of Precaution should guide the planning and the development of policies with respect to energy matters;

Concerned about the fact that interruptions in the supply of oil can affect all of APPF nations;

Recognizing that energy security also involves the implementation of measures to prevent risks to human beings and to the environment when power plants are affected by natural disasters;

Being aware that the political instability of any of the energy producing countries, the manipulation of energy supplies, the competition among energy sources, the attacks on energy infrastructure, as well as accidents and natural disasters, constitute threats to global energy security;

Recognizing that the dependence Asia Pacific nations have on foreign sources of energy is one of the most serious problems facing the world today, especially when viewed in light of the explosive growth in the region and the global nature of energy security as it relates to global warming;

Persuaded that governmental action is crucial to ensure the efficient use of multiple energy resources, and understanding that the global nature of this  problem and the growing interdependence among nations with respect to energy matters makes it vitally important that APPF member nations develop common strategies to face today’s energy challenge;

Considering that, as cooperation among producing countries, transit countries, and consuming countries is crucial to strengthening regional energy security, we must develop policies that rigorously respect the responsibilities assumed and the commitments made by all the parties;

Convinced that we must identify strategies and implement measures that are needed to ensure energy security for APPF member nations;

Considering that the international agreements reached in accordance with the International Energy Agency (IEA) require nations to have national response plans for interruptions in the oil supply, including a commitment to adopt effective common measures to contend with such emergencies, through the implementation of contingency plans for self-sufficiency, for restrictions in demand, and for the equitable allocation of available oil to member nations;

Underscoring the fact that energy security can only be achieved if we constantly develop new sources of energy;

Assuming that fossil fuels will continue to be the primary energy source in our region and in the world at large;

Being aware of the limited stores of the most common sources of primary energy, such as oil and natural gas, and of the inequitable distribution of these stores among countries;

Taking into account that petroleum is a non-renewable resource that will eventually run out, and that at some future date global oil production will begin to decline and oil extraction from known reserves will become progressively more expensive;

Underscoring the fact that energy produced by burning fossil fuels, when it is not generated rationally, is a source of greenhouse gas emissions, which damage the environment, contribute to air pollution and global warming, and produce a rise in the occurrence and severity of natural disasters;

Recognizing that the dependence many nations have on oil as a primary energy source, and the difficulties this generates for some nations, in particular emerging nations, can lead to strong competition for scarce resources that are indispensable for maintaining the basic infrastructure necessary for human survival;

Reiterating the need to seek out new energy sources, new technological developments, ways to expand renewable energy systems, ways to increase reinvestment of oil revenues to fund regional or bilateral research projects, and ways to enhance the interchange of best practices in management and financing;

Convinced that innovation plays a key role in the development of a wide range of energy resources such as biodiesel, biomass and alternative energies, such as hydraulic, wind, geothermal, tidal, wave, and so on; as well as in the development of incentives to encourage the recycling and the reuse of resources, the management of residuals, and the recovery of materials;

Considering that is it the task of the Parliaments to represent their citizens and their points of view in the discussion of energy security;

Reaffirming the commitments made by APPF Parliamentary members in energy security matters adopted at previous meetings, especially during the 15th and 16th APPF Meetings, which specifically addressed this subject.

We hereby resolve:

1.            To ensure and prioritize equitable access to essential energy sources for all the countries in the Asia Pacific region, in a safe and steady manner, with quality and reasonable prices.

2.            To emphasize the need for regional cooperation in these matters, reinforcing the interchange of public policy, expertise, technologies, and capital, in order to take advantage of a wide variety of energy sources and to modernize and update traditional forms of production;

3.            To endorse the proposition to create an energy map of the Asia Pacific region, with the aim of generating complementary alliances among countries in order to reinforce the advance towards regional energy security; 

4.            To appeal to governments to adopt measures for the rational use of energy, particularly with respect to energy that comes from the burning of fossil fuels;

5.            To recommend that APPF member nations work towards an international protocol based on existing agreements and ensuring a system of worldwide distribution of petroleum that guarantees essential services can be delivered, even in the case of reductions or disruptions in the supply of petroleum;

6.            To recognize the crucial importance of upgrading regulations and standards to safeguard security at energy production sites, particularly at nuclear and fossil fuel power plants and in areas at high risk of natural disasters; and to encourage the sharing of experiences in security and disaster management matters;

7.            To build industries and institutes that are transparent, safe, efficient, and respectful of the environment and the local communities;

8.            To develop public awareness and public policies that promote access to and the use of renewable energies;

9.            To recommend that the governments of APPF member nations integrate considerations of climate change and energy security as they develop housing  policy and carry out public housing projects;

10.         To aspire to achieve sustainable development through an ecological energy policy as recommended by the Bali agreement to reduce CO2 emissions;

11.         To take into account the fragile balance between the use of soils and water allocated to food and energy production;

12.         To recommend that APPF Parliamentary members promote the development of low cost energy sources, which are essential not only to sustain modern economies, but also to sustain human life by developing low emission technologies to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases;

13.         To encourage APPF Parliamentary members to promote energy cooperation focused on the development of alternative fuels such as biomass; solar, wind and geothermal energies; the sharing of research information related to energy matters; the interchange of best practices; technological transfer; and joint energy development;

14.         To persuade APPF Parliamentary members to urge their respective governments to develop alternative sources of renewable energy in the Asia Pacific region through the development and use of advanced technologies that will help them face the challenges of adapting to global warming, provide a secure supply of energy, and avoid excessive dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power;

15.         To encourage APPF Parliamentary members to recommend to their respective governments that they make every effort to create and foster ways and means to explore and implement the efficient use of energy and energy savings;

16.         To persuade APPF Parliamentary members to encourage their  respective governments to incorporate the Principle of Precaution into the development of their policies and plans with respect to energy matters;

17.         To recommend that APPF Parliamentary members, from those countries which choose to use nuclear energy, do everything possible to cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and that they consider employing the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to improve security and reduce risks in the use of nuclear energy;

18.         To keep in mind that the use of nuclear energy for those countries which decide to use it, implies adopting measures to ensure nuclear security, not nuclear proliferation, including guarantees with respect to the proper disposal of radioactive residuals;

19.         To recommend conducting research into geothermal energy at variable depths, with the aim of developing plans for all participating APPF nations.