Based on the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Macao Government will strive to work with its Guangdong and Hong Kong counterparts to deliver on policy initiatives towards a green and quality living area in the region.

This pledge was made today by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, in a speech at the opening of the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF).

The environment and sustainable development have become urgent issues as regional climate change presents real threats to our environmental wellbeing and economic development, he added.

He warned that the cost of inaction was too great and the threats to the environment could not be ignored.

Mr Ho said that the 2009 MIECF served as a timely opportunity for addressing these threats, with enormous contributions from governments, experts and industry leaders worldwide.

Despite the global economic downturn, actions on climate change should not be postponed because this is a time when challenges bring opportunities as nations across the world are advocating a green recovery through investment in environmental infrastructure and other green industries, noted the Chief Executive.

Meanwhile he took the opportunity to thank the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Environmental Protection for supporting the 2009 MIECF, as well as the governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region for co-organising the event.