The report, Energy Security, Clean Technology Development and Climate Change: addressing the future challenges in APEC, was released today by ABARE Executive Director Phillip Glyde. Printed copies of the report will be available for distribution during the APEC Leaders" Meeting in Sydney in September. PDF copies of the report are available now from the ABARE website.

"With energy consumption in APEC economies projected to increase by 140 per cent, investment in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is crucial," Mr Glyde explained.

APEC economies account for over half of the world"s energy use, economic output and greenhouse gas emissions and over a third of the world"s population.

Under current policy settings, energy consumption in APEC economies is projected to increase by about 140 per cent between 2004 and 2050. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be about 130 per cent higher in APEC economies relative to 2004 levels.

Investment in cleaner, more advanced and energy efficient technologies could reduce emissions in the APEC region by about 49 per cent relative to what would otherwise be the case at 2050.

"In order to achieve further reductions in emissions, governments May also choose to increase terrestrial sinks in forestry areas by fostering sustainable forest management and lowering the rate of deforestation. APEC economies in particular have a role to play here as they account for around 54 per cent of the global managed and natural forest area," Mr Glyde said.

If APEC were able to halve current deforestation rates in tropical Asian member economies over the period 2009–50 this would lead to an estimated 70 per cent fall in forestry related emissions in these economies at 2050 compared with what otherwise would be the case, according to the scenarios analysed in the report.