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Commonwealth talks target climate Climate fund to help poor nations
(about 3 hours later)
Commonwealth leaders have begun meeting in Trinidad with climate change high on the agenda in the last major summit before the Copenhagen climate talks. UK PM Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have proposed a multi-billion-dollar fund to help developing nations deal with climate change.
For the first time, a number of other world leaders have been invited to take part in the biennial meeting. Both spoke at the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad, the last major world forum before the Copenhagen climate talks.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Danish PM Lars Rasmussen are attending to give weight to any statement on climate change. Mr Sarkozy, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Danish Prime Minister Prime Lars Loekke Rasmussen, is there to give weight to any climate change statement.
Another key issue will be Rwanda's bid to join the Commonwealth. Many Commonwealth members are island states threatened by rising sea levels.
The 60th anniversary Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Port of Spain will also discuss the issue of the venue for the 2011 Commonwealth summit - with the UK vowing to block Sri Lanka's bid. The global summit on climate change is due to start in Copenhagen on 7 December, and the topic is the only issue on the Commonwealth summit's agenda for the first day.
Rising sea levels The Queen told delegates tackling climate change gave them the "opportunity to lead once more"
The global summit on climate change is due to start in Copenhagen on 7 December, and the topic is the only issue on Commonwealth summit's agenda for the first day.
About half of members, like the Maldives, are island states
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has described the meeting as "an important springboard towards Copenhagen".
Opening the Trinidad meeting, Queen Elizabeth II said the Commonwealth had an opportunity to lead once more on climate change.Opening the Trinidad meeting, Queen Elizabeth II said the Commonwealth had an opportunity to lead once more on climate change.
"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 said."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 said.
"Many of those affected are among the most vulnerable and many of the people least well able to withstand the adverse effects of climate change live in the Commonwealth." 'Absolutely serious'
About half of the Commonwealth's members are island states, many of them threatened by rising sea levels. Mr Brown called for a $10bn fund, half of which would go towards helping developing nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and the other half towards helping them adapt to climate change.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who is hosting the three-day meeting, said he hoped the summit could boost momentum for an agreement on carbon emissions at Copenhagen, amid "concerns about the way the negotiations were going". About half of members, like the Maldives, are island states
"We hope to arrive at a political statement that can add value to the process that will culminate in Copenhagen next month... what we can do is raise our voices politically," he said. The first cash would be made available next year, he said, before any emissions deal could take effect.
He is offering $800m from the UK over three years, money that has already been budgeted for.
"What I feel the developing countries need to know is that we are absolutely serious that we would start now," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.
In separate remarks quoted by AFP news agency, Mr Sarkozy proposed a funding programme of $10bn a year in the years 2010-12, and an "ambitious mechanism" for payments beyond those years.
He did not indicate how much France was prepared to contribute.
The two leaders said the move could encourage developing nations concerned about the economic consequences of reducing emissions to sign up to a climate treaty.
'Pressure' on India
The Commonwealth's 53 nations comprise nearly two billion people, a third of the planet's population.The Commonwealth's 53 nations comprise nearly two billion people, a third of the planet's population.
The leaders are meeting days after pledges by the US and China to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns that the Copenhagen meeting could fail to agree substantial cuts.The leaders are meeting days after pledges by the US and China to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns that the Copenhagen meeting could fail to agree substantial cuts.
Conservationist Dennis Sammy shows James Robbins the effects of climate change on Trinidad & Tobago THE COMMONWEALTH Made up of former British colonies, dependencies and other territories, plus MozambiqueFounded in 1931Currently 53 members, with combined population of 1.8 billionHeaded by British monarch, but no allegiance to Crown since 1947Heads of government meet every two years class="" href="/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1554175.stm">Profile: The Commonwealth class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8382676.stm">What would the Commonwealth do for Rwanda? class="" href="/2/hi/talking_point/8375378.stm">What's your Copenhagen solution?
India has admitted that China's decision to unveil emissions targets two weeks before the Copenhagen summit has put it under pressure.India has admitted that China's decision to unveil emissions targets two weeks before the Copenhagen summit has put it under pressure.
Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said China's decision was a "wake-up call to India".Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said China's decision was a "wake-up call to India".
But in another Commonwealth country, Australia, the government's plans to enact a law for an emissions trading scheme have been thrown into chaos by a revolt within the opposition Liberal Party, whose support is required to pass the bill.But in another Commonwealth country, Australia, the government's plans to enact a law for an emissions trading scheme have been thrown into chaos by a revolt within the opposition Liberal Party, whose support is required to pass the bill.
Rwanda membership The summit will also discuss Rwanda's entry into the English-speaking club. The Francophone nation has been seeking membership following disagreements with France over events leading up to the 1994 genocide.
The summit will also discuss Rwanda's entry into the English-speaking club.
THE COMMONWEALTH Made up of former British colonies, dependencies and other territories, plus MozambiqueFounded in 1931Currently 53 members, with combined population of 1.8 billionHeaded by British monarch, but no allegiance to Crown since 1947Heads of government meet every two years Profile: The Commonwealth What would the Commonwealth do for Rwanda? What's your Copenhagen solution?
The Francophone nation has been seeking membership following disagreements with France over events leading up to the 1994 genocide.
The issue is likely to be controversial. The nation's entry bid has received strong backing from some member states.The issue is likely to be controversial. The nation's entry bid has received strong backing from some member states.
However, some rights activists are angry that entry would reward a nation they say is guilty of abuses dating back to the 1994 genocide.However, some rights activists are angry that entry would reward a nation they say is guilty of abuses dating back to the 1994 genocide.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, in Trinidad, says the leaders are expected to admit Rwanda. Meanwhile the UK has indicated it will try to block Sri Lanka's bid to host the next Commonwealth summit over its handling of the recent war.
He says most of the leaders apparently believe that if Rwanda is admitted, then they will be able to apply peer pressure to improve the lives of its people.
Zimbabwe's possible re-entry could also be brought up at the meeting.
Sri Lanka controversy
The UK has indicated it will try to block Sri Lanka's bid to host the next Commonwealth summit over its handling of the recent war.
Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans are still displaced
A UK government source said Mr Brown had "real concerns about Sri Lanka's bid".A UK government source said Mr Brown had "real concerns about Sri Lanka's bid".
The source said: "We simply cannot be in a position where Sri Lanka - whose actions earlier this year had a huge impact on civilians, leading to thousands of displaced people without proper humanitarian access - is seen to be rewarded for its actions."
The UN estimates the conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels left at least 7,000 civilians dead with 150,000 people still displaced and living in camps.
At a state dinner ahead of the summit, the Queen acknowledged her hosts by wearing a gown featuring two of the Caribbean nation's national birds and its national flower.
At the banquet in the grounds of President George Maxwell Richards' official home in Port of Spain, she paid tribute to Trinidad's efforts to combat drug trafficking.