"Lusaka Declaration" says time crucial for addressing climate change

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.