Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group will agree to cut ``energy intensity'' by 25 percent by 2030 and plant 20 million hectares of trees to combat climate change, according to a draft of their declaration.

At a summit in Sydney in September, APEC leaders will agree to fund clean technologies and combat illegal logging, according to a draft obtained by Bloomberg. The communiqué is due to be released Sept. 9. The world's two biggest emitters, China and the U.S., will attend the meeting.

Energy demand in the APEC region is anticipated to double by 2030, the Australian government estimates. Scientists say global warming caused by man-made emissions of carbon dioxide is causing glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise and coral reefs to die out. United Nations negotiations on a new global treaty cutting emissions begin in December.

Leaders ``agree to work to a goal of reduction in energy intensity across the APEC region by at least 25 percent by 2030,'' the draft says, and adopt ``an inspirational goal of expanding forest cover in the region as a whole by at least 20 million hectares by 2020.''

Energy intensity is a measure of an economy's energy efficiency. Environmental activists say the wording avoids any commitment to carbon emission reduction targets.

Australian Coating

``The APEC declaration is clearly 'Made in the U.S.' and covered with a thick coating of Australian coal dust,'' said Cindy Baxter, a spokeswoman for Greenpeace referring to Australia's status as the world's biggest exporter coal.

APEC recognizes the ``potential of energy efficiency improvements'' and renewable energy, the draft says. The ``safe and secure'' use of nuclear technology would help address climate change, it says.

The draft calls for APEC to set up an Asia-Pacific Network for Energy Technology to promote and fund clean energy through state-run and private bodies, and an Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Rehabilitation and Management.

China will support the Sydney declaration on climate change, assistant foreign minister Cui Tiankai said at a briefing in Beijing today. China has already said it will increase its forestland from 18.2 percent of its landmass to 20 percent, without setting a timetable.

APEC economies, which represent half the world's commerce, will also call for the resumption of talks on a global trade agreement. If the talks don't succeed by the end of 2007, APEC will explore a free-trade bloc at its 2008 meeting, it says.

APEC includes the U.S., Japan, China, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 28, 2007 05:29 EDT