APEC

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 countries or regions at one of the rims of the Pacific Ocean, including diverse countries such as the US, China, Chile, and Australia. APEC heads of government meet annually to discuss the regional economy, cooperation, trade and investment. The membership is stated to account for approximately 40% of the world's population, approximately 55% of world GDP and about half of world trade.

APEC operates as a cooperative, multilateral economic and trade forum, and is committed to reducing trade barriers and increasing investments without requiring its members to enter into legally binding obligations. APECs stance towards climate change is emphasized in its 2007 ministerial_statement, where the APEC ministers stated that "climate change, energy security and clean development are of vital interest to APEC economies". Further, the APEC ministers agreed on the important role that market-based solutions can play in mobilising economy-wide efforts to address energy security and achieve sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. APEC's activities are aimed at practical outcomes on clean development and climate change include the areas of energy investment and trade, energy efficiency and technology, transport emission and alternative fuels, among others. APEC has also launched initiatives such as the Energy Working Group (EWG), the Energy Security Initiative (ESI).