Bangkok--18 Jul--UN With consensus among scientists and policymakers emerging regarding climate change, countries in Asia and the Pacific need to scale up their responses urgently to avoid the worst consequences predicted. Business and the financial sector have a key role to play. The message came from a United Nations-sponsored meeting which opened today in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The two-day event brings together government policymakers, business leaders, academics and representatives of non-governmental organisations from across the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting focuses on developing business models and financial frameworks which promote clean energy and reduce the impact of climate changes. “Asia and the Pacific region has to urgently identify an effective strategy to pursue economic growth while controlling its carbon dioxide emissions”, Han Seung-soo, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the UN on Climate Change, told the conference. “Large investment is required for the mitigation and adaptation to climate change, which could provide us with an opportunity to promote new technologies and to create new market in return. The challenge of climate change could be transformed into an opportunity for cleaner and ecologically efficient economic growth”. The meeting is jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the government of the United Kingdom -- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) andDepartment for International Development (DFID), the Korean Environment Institute and 136 Environment CEO Forum. A parallel civil society dialogue is organized by Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London) and Energeia Institute. The meeting focuses on key issues such as the need for shifting towards low carbon society, regional challenges and opportunities, and mechanisms and models to scale up responses. The outcomes and recommendations will contribute to the G8 dialogue process on climate change launched by leading industrial countries following their summit at Gleneagles, UK, in July 2005. For further information on the meeting and the Asia Pacific Consultations on Gleneagles Dialogue, please contact: Mr. Rae Kwon Chung Director Environment and Sustainable Development Division UNESCAP Tel. (662) 288 — 1510, Email: [email protected]