THE Commonwealth summit organisers in Trinidad should be applauded for keeping the focus on Climate Change. Credit goes to Prime Minister Patrick Manning and President Jagdeo for putting the pressure on the world leaders to focus on climate change. The President excelled at his press conferences discussing climate change.

No doubt, the stature of T&T has been raised as a result of the summit promoting the country to the global community and focus on climate change. It is to Manning’s credit that three non-Commonwealth leaders — President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark, and UN Secretary-General Ban K Moon — came to the summit in addition to the big guns from the other 51 countries. All the leaders agreed to work together on several important issues especially regarding poverty reduction in the third world and climate change relating to global warming which threatens to cover many low lying lands.

The invitation of the three non-Commonwealth leaders is an indication of the intensity of the efforts on climate-change which is an undisputed threat to nations especially Guyana and other low lying lands. The purpose of the invitation to the non-Commonwealth trio was to establish a consensus ahead of the global climate talks now going on in Denmark. As a result of the discussions, some countries softened their position on Climate Change. India, for example, has agreed to go along with the request of the developed countries to reduce its carbon emissions. And the wealthy countries have proposed a fund to help the poor countries cope with climate related issues separate from their regular financial aid package to developing countries. President Sarkozy called for the creation of a global environmental institution which would monitor the progress made by countries in reducing carbon emissions. Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Rasmussen all seem to be in favour of creating a fund to help the forested poor countries like Guyana to maintain their forests while pursuing alternative development. In this regard, Rasmussen must be applauded for telling the leaders that the money to fight global warming must not be at the expense of other international efforts to reduce poverty. He said: “It is important for me personally to underline that the financing of a new climate agreement must not undermine efforts to reduce poverty and reaching the Millennium Development Goals. While fighting climate change we need to take into account and respect developing countries’ rights to economic and social development”.

In addition to climate, CHOGM leaders also discussed human rights, democracy, and terror pledging to help each other to eradicate terror groups and strengthen democracy in their territory. They also call for the imposition of democratic governance in Fiji and Zimbabwe and a reduction in violence in the world.

If nothing else, CHOGM has rekindled interest in a firm agreement coming out of the Climate Summit in Denmark. It is hoped that in Denmark this week, the developed countries will commit much more money to poor countries to sustain the environment.
VISHNU BISRAM