Parliamentarians for Global Action

31st Annual Forum: Environment and Energy Management
United States Congress
October 21 – 22, 2009
We, Parliamentarians participating in Parliamentarians for Global Action’s (PGA) 31st Annual
Forum on Environment and Energy Management:
Acknowledging that energy and global warming represent two of the most critical and consequential
challenges of the 21st century;
Affirming the principle that tackling global warming and energy insecurity can be a major
international driver for economic growth and job creation in the coming decades;
Understanding that the environmental impacts of global warming also represent major threats to
global public health, human security, food security, gender equality, and the stability of nations,
particularly in developing countries
Understanding that reducing dependence on fossil fuels and diversifying and decarbonizing the
global energy portfolio is an energy security imperative, as well as critical to fighting global warming;
Recognizing that confronting these challenges will require a concerted and coordinated global
response;
Accepting the broad scientific view that global concentrations of greenhouse gasses are approaching
dangerous and irreversible levels, and that urgent action is required.;
Recognizing that rapid economic growth, while contributing to human development and poverty
eradication, poses new challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a low-carbon economy;
Cognizant that the majority of historic greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to industrialized
countries, but acknowledging that the responsibility to act is universal;
Affirming that any actions to tackle global warming should take into account diverse national and
regional circumstances—including conflict—in accordance with the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities, as well as our respective capabilities;
Cautioning that the pursuit of climate change and energy security policies must avoid introducing
unnecessary and potentially disruptive barriers to trade, investment and socio-economic development,
but instead should help inform and advance ethical standards of international commerce;
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Affirming our commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as the
core mechanism for addressing climate change at the global level;
Recognizing that in conjunction with international climate negotiations, each country must also forge
ahead with domestic policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while fostering economic growth;
including through PGA National Chapters and its global network;
Agree to work within our respective Parliaments, Parliamentary Committees, and other
regional and international fora in which we participate, to:
1. Commit to the goal of significantly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, with corresponding
short, medium and long-term targets;
2. Support the international negotiations in Copenhagen to achieve an effective post-2012
international agreement to reduce global warming emissions;
3. Carry out individual and collective actions, in a broad range of sectors, to address climate change,
based on the principles of equity, flexibility, effectiveness, and common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities;
4. Encourage fellow Parliamentarians to actively promote all legal measures to achieve the goal of a
low-carbon economy, including the expansion of alternative and renewable sources of energy;
5. Support the development and expansion of policies to promote sustainable, low-carbon energy
production, while creating jobs and advancing economic opportunities;
6. Elevate the human rights dimensions of the global warming threat;
7. Coordinate our efforts and work together as we set and implement our own domestic
emissions reductions targets;
8. Cooperate and exchange best practices in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in
order to better integrate financing and technical assistance into international, regional and national
efforts to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change;
9. Facilitate the deployment and commercialization of clean technology through various means,
such as public and private investment, financial assistance, and technology transfer;
10. Strengthen information sharing and response capabilities to natural disaster risks raised by climate
variability and extreme weather events;
11. Increase public awareness of the impacts of climate change, and enhance grassroots participation
in efforts to reduce emissions;
12. Promote a new economic and environmental ethic that advances the principles of equity and
broadly-shared prosperity in the international and domestic solutions forged to combat climate
change;