New Delhi , Aug. 22

With an aim to promote clean technology adoption by six member countries, the Asia Pacific Partners (APP), led by the US, would talk to multilateral funding organisations to offer low-cost credit, Mr James L. Connaughton, the White House Chairman of Council on Environmental Quality, said here on Tuesday.

Under the APP, the US has joined hands with Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea to create a partnership on clean development, energy security and climate change.

Pointing out that the six member countries of the APP account for about 50 per cent of the world's population, coal and petroleum consumption, Mr Connaughton said that various task forces on cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy, power generation and transmission, steel, aluminium, cement, coal mining, and buildings and appliances are expected to submit reports by the month-end. In October, the task force proposals would be finalised, he added.

Though Mr Connaughton did not specify the exact mechanism that would ensure adoption of cleaner technology, he indicated the mechanism is likely to include tax incentives for clean technologies. He was speaking at an industry interaction meet organised by FICCI.

"We can learn from each others' experience in clean technologies — while India has advanced cement manufacturing technology and largest CNG-based fleet, the US has lessons to offer on capturing methane from coal mines," he said.

When asked if all member countries would be expected to aim for equal green house gas reduction responsibilities, he said there is a recognition that each country is in a different stage in its development path.