Commonwealth seeks binding climate deal

Commonwealth countries have signed a declaration putting their weight behind reaching a binding agreement on climate change during next month's United Nations talks in Copenhagen.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who took part in the Commonwealth summit this weekend, welcomed the decision and said the fact that 50 heads of state from three continents agreed on the position was "very significant".

He said the declaration drew particular attention to islands, especially those which were not connected to continents, like Malta.

Commonwealth leaders suggested that 10 per cent of the proposed $10 billion-a-year Copenhagen Launch Fund should be channeled to small island states most at risk from rising sea levels caused by global warming.

Leaders of the 53-nation Commonwealth met in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend, where they bolstered a diplomatic offensive to seek consensus on how to fight global warming.

They pledged to back Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in his efforts to secure wide attendance and commitment from world leaders at the climate talks next month.

The deal the United Nations is aiming for in Copenhagen would cover tougher emissions targets, climate financing for poorer nations and transfer of clean-energy technology.

The climate treaty, expected to be adopted as a final text next year, will replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012. Other topics discussed the Commonwealth meeting, which ended yesterday, were the financial crisis and young people.