Toyako (Japan), July 8 : Group of Eight (G-8) leaders on Tuesday said that improvement of energy efficiency and reduction in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions could only be achieved through sectoral approaches and through dissemination of existing and new technologies in a manner compatible with economic growth.

In a vision statement issued here today, the G-8 leaders asked the International Energy Agency (IEA) to enhance its work on voluntary sectoral indicators through improved data collection, complemented by business initiatives.

"We recognize the importance of setting mid-term, aspirational goals for energy efficiency. In national goals and objectives, as well as in country specific action plans, we will maximize implementation of the IEA''s 25 recommendations on energy efficiency," the G-8 leaders said.

"We welcome the recent decision to establish the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), of which the terms of association will be determined by the end of this year, as a high level forum for enhancing and coordinating our joint efforts to accelerate the adoption of sound energy efficiency improvement practices. We invite all interested countries to join those efforts. We promote clean energy, given its importance in tackling climate change and for the enhancement of energy security, by setting national goals and formulating action plans followed by appropriate monitoring," they said, adding that there are significant and growing economic and employment opportunities in this sector.

Recognising the importance of renewable energy in tackling climate change and in the long term reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, the G-8 leaders underscored the importance of sustainable biofuel production and use.

They said that the same should apply for the broader use of biomass for fuel, heat and electricity.

"We support the work of the Global Bioenergy Partnership? h (GBEP) and invite it to work with other relevant stakeholders to develop science-based benchmarks and indicators for biofuel production and use. We are committed to continuing research and development of second generation biofuel technologies," they concluded. (ANI)