Asia, a latecomer in the field of green economy, is striving to shift from a fossil-fuel-based economy to green development, yet more efforts are needed such as regional cooperation, government green governance as well as financial and technological support, agreed the participants in the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Special Conference in Xi'an of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Joint efforts are imperative as the shift to a green economy cannot be achieved by any one party or any one country alone, said China's Vice President Li Yuanchao at the ICAPP special conference yesterday. Pollution knows no borders as Asian countries are linked by mountains and rivers. "We should join hands in pollution control and environmental protection to build a beautiful homeland," said Li.

Jose de Venecia, founding chairman and co-chairman of the ICAPP standing committee, said Asian policy-makers should ensure the interests of the environment are represented in their public policies.

In echoing Li, Jose de Venecia, founding chairman and co-chairman of the ICAPP standing committee, said one of the conference's tasks is to collect successful international practices in green development and popularize them among its member parties. Asia, whose economic developmenthas come at a cost of resource shortage, environmental degradation and climate change, must take actions now to avoid more frequent extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels.

Climate change contributes to the death of nearly 400,000 people and costs the world over US$1.2 trillion per year, or 1.6% of the global GDP, said a study report in September 2012 from DARA Group, a Europe-based NGO.

Aside from regional cooperation, the Asian countries' policy makers should change their GDP-based definition of national progress and put more emphasis on green governance. They should ensure the interests of the environment are represented in their public policies.