Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting 2009

Written on 3:22 PM by Admin

Commonwealth supports climate change declaration

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Commonwealth states or Commonwealth summit

 The Commonwealth's bloc of 50-plus nations has thrown its support behind a climate change declaration ahead of the United Nations summit in Copenhagen.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who helped draw up the three-page document, said the consensus reached at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) underway in Trinidad and Tobago is a "significant step forward" to securing a comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen.
The declaration is supported by India, Britain and Bangladesh and other populous Commonwealth nations that account for one-third of the world's population as well as tiny countries including Kiribati and Maldives.
The Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration does not set emission targets or commitments.
It calls for "an internationally legally binding agreement" to be hatched in Copenhagen and recognises "the need for an early peaking year for global emissions".
"In Copenhagen we commit to focus our efforts on achieving the strongest possible outcome," the declaration states.
Rudd, speaking at a CHOGM press conference with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen to announce the declaration, said targets and commitments will be worked on ahead of the Copenhagen summit, set to begin on December 7.

"Those negotiations continue," Rudd told reporters.
"Progress has been made.
"You see as each day passes a large number of states coming forward with their own national commitments."
The declaration also won the support of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has refused to commit Canada to any specific, short-term strategy to cut greenhouse gases.
The three non-Commonwealth leaders - Rasmussen, Ban and French President Nicholas Sarkozy - have been high-profile faces at CHOGM, engaging in closed door meetings to drum up support for a binding emissions treaty to be signed in Copenhagen.
The trio views the support of the influential bloc of Commonwealth states as key ahead of Copenhagen.
"There is still some hard work to be done from now towards Copenhagen, but I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Commonwealth leaders stated ... the need for an early peaking year for global emissions ... that means developed countries will have to move fast," Rasmussen said at the press conference.
Rudd also pointed to the declaration's support for a $US10 billion fast start fund proposed on Friday at CHOGM by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Rudd said the fund is the "breakthrough" piece of the document.
The fund is designed to help countries most vulnerable to climate change.
The Australian prime minister will meet with US President Barack Obama on Monday in Washington DC, with climate change on the agenda.
Rudd said the consensus reached by the Commonwealth should ring in the ears of other nations.
"That single voice is saying to the world that we, as the Commonwealth representing one-third of the world's population, believe the time for action on climate change has come," Rudd said.
"The clock is ticking with Copenhagen.
"We have achieved one-third of a significant step forward with this communique and we believe that the political goodwill and resolve exists to secure a comprehensive agreement at Copenhagen."

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