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SINGAPORE: A key point raised at a session during the World Economic Forum on East Asia is to stop blaming one another for the world's environmental problems and to start working on ways to solve them together.
Countries like Malaysia feel they are often being blamed for contributing to environmental problems.
So it questioned why the country has not been recognised for the good it has done, such as making sure it does not exhaust its petroleum products.
Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Malaysia's Second Finance Minister, said: "Let's take the hypocrisy out of this formula where the countries without trees keep telling the countries with trees to stop chopping them down and to slow down growth.
"It's a collective, collaborative effort that is required and the developed countries will have to play their role rather than treat the whole issue in a very adversarial and bias basis."
Panel members also believe multi-lateral institutions have a part to play in driving sustainable growth.
But many added that big countries should take the lead.
For example, if the US ratifies international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol, this may help to pave the way for a changed behaviour towards issues like climate change and energy efficiency.
The Kyoto Protocol sets legal binding timelines for industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Ralph Peterson, Chairman & CEO, CH2M Hill Companies, said: "It's very unfortunate that not every country, including the United States of America, has been willing to make the kind of leadership commitments that are required to catalyse action.
"I believe that's in the process of changing and I'm operationally optimistic that we'll get this problem solved, if we can move beyond the issue of blaming one another and to concentrate on letting the market help us solve these problems through concerted efforts of all the parties involved."
Many of the panel members agree that individual countries have their own models and systems to tackle environmental problems, so it is ideal for countries to come together and discuss strategies that are beneficial for all, instead of having a few nations impose their framework on other developing countries.
One example of partnership is where Japan is committed to offering some kind of financial assistance to help reduce further global warming.
- CNA/so
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