Commonwealth countries agreed to work for a legally-binding outcome at the UN climate change summit in Paris which opens tomorrow.
The declaration came at the end of the second day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta that had climate change on its agenda.
But the voice of unity was stuttered by a lone unnamed country that had reservations on three crucial clauses of the joint declaration.
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma refused to name the country, insisting he wanted to preserve unity.
In a four-page declaration the 53-nation bloc said it would work towards “an ambitious, equitable, inclusive… and durable outcome of COP21 that includes a legally-binding agreement in the form of a protocol”. The lone dissenting voice expressed reservations on this clause.
Leaders also agreed to abide by the target to hold the increase in global average temperature below two degrees Celsius or 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Commonwealth countries will work together to achieve an outcome at the Paris summit that will stimulate sustainable economic growth, give a clear signal of the need for deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions and support vulnerable states.
The Malta CHOGM’s legacy will also be in the form of a climate finance access hub that will be based in Mauritius.
Australia pledged $1 million to the hub that will give vulnerable countries the ability to access climate financing to make the necessary changes to develop clean energy and combat the effects of climate change.
Leaders yesterday also agreed on the creation of a unit within the Commonwealth secretariat to combat radicalisation, especially among young people.
The UK has pledged $5 million over five years to the unit and Australia $2.5 million.
Leaders also agreed that the next CHOGM will be held in the UK. It was due to be held in Vanuatu in the South Pacific; however, its government decided to pull out after a cyclone destroyed much of the island’s infrastructure earlier this year.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com