Climate change top of Commonwealth Summit agenda, says Brown

The meeting of leaders from Britain’s former colonial empire is usually a low-key event, but coming as it does this year a week before the UN Summit in Copenhagen, where a global deal on climate change is to be negotiated, CHOGM leaders says they have an opportunity to influence the global debate.

“Prior to talks in Copenhagen next month it is imperative that we send a bold, pan-Commonwealth message on what needs to be done – and to let the rest of the world know we stand together and ready to act in a united way,” said Brown.

The importance being placed on this year’s CHOGM meeting is underlined by the fact that a number of leaders from outside the Commonwealth are also attending. They include Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago told journalists on Thursday that leaders of the 52-nation group would be working out a statement on climate change. "A statement from countries as diverse as those that you find in the Commonwealth is a statement that would be much more reflective of world than would otherwise be the case," he said.

CHOGM takes place every two years and enables Commonwealth countries to gather and discuss global political and economic issues and agree collective policies and initiatives.

The Queen, in her role as Head of the Commonwealth, is also due to attend the meeting.