The recent Commonwealth summit in Port-of-Spain has produced a great deal of optimism and hope with respect to climate change which took centre stage overshadowing every other issue.

While many are predicting that the upcoming meeting in Copenhagen next month would be a “damp squib” with respect to financial returns for countries like Guyana which have kept their rainforests intact, the outcome at Port-of-Spain provides much hope that after all the outcome at Copenhagen might be much more positive than expected as some of the heavyweights who were there and would also be attending the Copenhagen meeting have demonstrated a positive and reassuring stance.

One of those heavyweights, France, has already given a solid commitment with President Sarkozy pledging US$10 billion fund annually over the next three years to help developing countries cope with climate change.

From all indications, Mr. Sarkozy seems to be very committed and passionate about the climate change and has given a tangible demonstration of this.

Sarkozy, who met Commonwealth leaders during a special session on climate change after the opening of the summit, told reporters that seven or eight decisions should be taken in Copenhagen and all leaders should be present on those two days.

“Let me tell you my deeply felt position — it is either we take all the decisions or we take none…because we need to strike the right balance,” he said at the summit media centre.

He said there was also need to provide money to help the poorest countries of the world deal with the impact of climate change.

The French President said that together with Britain, France is guaranteeing US$10 billion to the world’s poorest countries and developing states.

“As of now, in other words as of 2010 …10 billion dollars for every year in the very first three years,” will be made available.

“I think that for me spells guarantee,” he told reporters.

These were Very positive and encouraging assurances from Sarkozy indeed. But of course the French grant is not the end all of the funding issue because the US$10 billion is far from adequate to deal with all the consequences of climate change.

And President Bharrat Jagdeo, regarded internationally as a leading advocate on the climate change front, has been quick to point this out.

President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters here the US$10 billion fund should be seen as interim financing for climate change.

“…we must not lose sight of the main financing proposal”, he said, adding that studies have shown that it would take about one per cent of global GDP (about US$300 billion) to deal with adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer related to the impact of climate change.

“We prefer to see this as interim financing pending the expiration of the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol but without losing sight of the larger sums that it would take to address the significant issues of adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer”, he said.

He noted that for example, the World Bank has estimated that adaptation needs of the AOSIS (Association of Small Island States) countries at between US$75-US$80 billion per annum “and we are talking about ten billion”.

However, what is clear is that many of the heavyweights are coming around to accept that climate change has to be addressed with a greater sense of urgency and at the same time countries which are helping to reduce greenhouse gases by preserving their rainforests must be adequately compensated.

Britain’s Head of State, Queen Elizabeth 11, who normally avoids making definitive statements on world issues departed from this stance and was very forthright as she emphasised the importance of climate change to the future of mankind.

She acknowledged that many of those affected by climate change are among the most vulnerable, adding that many of the people least well able to withstand the adverse effects of climate change live in the Commonwealth.

She observed that on the eve of the Copenhagen meeting on climate change the Commonwealth has an opportunity to lead once more.

“The threat to our environment is not a new concern. But it is now a global challenge which will continue to affect the security and stability of millions for years to come, she declared.

She added: “The commonwealth can be proud of the fact that in each of its six decades, it has shaped the international response to global challenges.”

With such heartening responses coming from heavyweights, we now anxiously await fruitful and tangible results at Copenhagen.