The Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate -- which also groups Australia, India, Japan and South Korea -- said that while fighting global warming was important, economic growth should not be sacrificed.

"Fossil fuels underpin our economies, and will be an enduring reality for our lifetimes and beyond," ministers from the six nations said in a statement.

"It is therefore critical that we work together to develop, demonstrate and implement cleaner and lower emissions technologies that allow for the continued economic use of fossil fuels while addressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions."

Scientists believe that the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas contributes to climate change as emissions become trapped in the atmosphere and work as a warming blanket over the earth.

The six nations will also consider establishing an Asia Pacific energy technology cooperation centre to develop an energy audit programme, the statement said.

The ministers said business had a critical role to play in developing cleaner technologies.

As such, eight groups combining government and private enterprise have been established to combat emissions from the worst polluting industries and develop renewable energy sources.

The groups will cover developing cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy, power generation and transmission, steel, aluminium, cement, coal mining and practices for more energy efficient buildings and technologies.

"We have directed the task forces to drive improvements with regard to best practices and ensure that a range of technologies is developed and repeatedly demonstrated so that scale is increased and costs are reduced," the statement said.

Each group, which will involve all six countries, will be expected to review how they address climate change, share knowledge and develop plans to improve cooperation.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the agreement provided a "ground-breaking new model for international climate change and energy collaboration."

"The partnership approach redefines the international climate change and energy debate," he said.

The agreement is designed to complement rather than replace the 1990 Kyoto Protocol, which set targets and timelines by which developing countries were asked to cut their carbon emissions, he said.

Australia and the US have refused to ratify the Kyoto agreement.

The United States has so far committed 52 million US dollars to the partnership while Australia pledged five million (3.8 million US) over the next five years.

Related Links
TerraDaily
Search TerraDaily
Subscribe To TerraDaily Express